Proposed Rule Affirms Nondiscrimination Protections for Transgender Students in Sports

Update: In April of 2024, the U.S. Department of Education released a final rule that affirms that Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, transgender status, and other sex-based characteristics and stereotypes. Learn more about the final rule.

On April 13, 2023, the Department of Education’s proposed a regulatory standard under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) governing the inclusion of transgender athletes (Proposed Athletics Rule). The proposed rule protects the ability of transgender students to participate in sports.

Earlier this year, GLAD and the National Center for Lesbian Rights jointly produced a fact sheet explaining the proposed rule and its protection of transgender students in school sports under Title IX.

While we strongly support the proposed rule, we urge the Department of Education to provide more clarity around enforcement to prevent misinterpretation and misapplication of the rule.

On May 13, GLAD and NCLR, along with several other LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, submitted a public comment in support of the proposed rule. Read the public comment.