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Resolution rejecting Title IX extension for transgender protections signed by Governor Cox

Published

6 months ago

June 23, 2024

Editor-in-Chief

Salt Lake City, Utah – On Friday, June 21, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox formally signed a measure declaring that Utah will not follow proposed Title IX amendments that would have added rights for transgender youth.

Protecting students from sex-based discrimination in federally financed educational institutions, Title IX was first approved in 1972. Gender identification is now included under Title IX, according to a recent announcement from the US Department of Education.

The new transgender restroom law in Utah would be in direct conflict with the new Title IX regulations, which are scheduled to take effect in August. Utilizing Utah’s recently established Sovereignty Act, the resolution signed by Governor Cox chooses to disregard such expansions in favor of state law.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the Utah Senate Democratic Caucus denounced the Republican-led initiative.

“This represents a misguided and unconstitutional directive that jeopardizes the future of our state’s education system,” read the statement. “By rejecting these regulations, we risk losing $696 million in federal funds that sustain our public education system.”

Democrats claimed that the resolution might clash with the Supremacy Clause of the federal government, which states that federal laws take precedence over state laws.

Sen. Jen Plumb opposed the resolution during the meeting as well:

“This dialogue is very confusing, frustrating, and saddening,” said Plumb. “It feels that you have already won this war against a very small group of already marginalized communities. This feels targeted, this feels politicized and it truly feels like we are doubling down on a group of people who are already an unloved section of our population.”

The federal government’s reaction to Utah’s new resolution, which served as the focal point of this week’s special legislative session, is still unknown as of this writing. Six legislation from the Wednesday, June 19 session were signed by Cox.