APA Services welcomed the Department of Education’s updated Title IX rule on sexual harassment and other sex discrimination. The new regulations would, for the first time, explicitly extend Title IX protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
“With a record number of states recently enacting or proposing laws targeting LGBTQ+ youth, data show that such polices are harmful to the health, safety, and psychological well-being of these students, who are more likely than their peers to face discrimination in school,” said APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD. “Such discrimination places them at higher risk for mental health conditions such as depression and suicidal thinking. These federal protections are welcome, given the political climate in many states.”
Additionally, the updated rule would broaden the definition of sexual harassment, provide more flexibility for reporting and resolving complaints of sexual misconduct, strengthen student support and recovery options, and ensure pregnant and parenting students receive more support to complete their education.
APA Services submitted public comments in summer of 2022, when the proposed rule was initially issued, and worked with coalition colleagues to urge the Biden administration to release this finalized version (PDF, 99KB)opens in new window.
For more information, contact Kenneth Polishchuk.