Representatives from APA’s Division 44 and APASI advocacy staff met with Suzanne Goldberg, acting assistant secretary for civil rights at the Department of Education, and her staff in June to discuss the need for stronger Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students at religious colleges and universities. The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights is in the process of gathering information to improve enforcement of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). The meeting provided an opportunity for Division 44 members to share the recent statement (PDF, 475KB) signed by 18 APA divisions urging the U.S. Department of Education to protect LGBTQ+ students at religious colleges and universities.
Earlier that month, APASI advocacy staff participated in a virtual public hearing the department held as part of its comprehensive review of the department’s existing regulations related to implementing President Biden’s March 8 Executive Order (PDF, 207KB) on Guaranteeing an Educational Environment Free from Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Including Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity. APA joined 80 leading education, legal, and LGBTQ+ rights organizations (PDF, 403KB) in calling for the department to ensure schools are from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, sex stereotypes, or sex characteristics.
For more information, contact Kenneth Polishchuk.