Tuesday’s statement from Paxton declaring victory in a lawsuit to stop “woke” federal agency mandates.
The lawsuit, filed in 2017, concerns the Obama-era interpretation of Title IX to mean that “sex” included gender identity, and could be used to force schools and employers to adopt gender identity policies. In August 2019, a federal court ruled that the Trump administration could not enforce these mandates, and 2022, 13 December on Tuesday the Biden administration declined to appeal this ruling, making it permanent.
This decision has been hailed by some as a victory for religious freedom, while some see it as another attack on the LGBTQ+ community. What is clear is that this decision will have far-reaching consequences for both the LGBTQ+ community and religious institutions nationwide.
Overview of the Lawsuit
On Tuesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared victory in a lawsuit to stop “woke” federal agency mandates concerning sexual orientation and gender identity. The Biden administration declined to appeal a federal court’s ruling, making the decision permanent.
The lawsuit concerned a mandate that would have required sex-change procedures for children to receive federal funds, as well as a mandate that would have required gender identity policies for the workplace. As a result of the lawsuit, Texas will not have to legalize sex-change procedures for children in order to receive federal funds, nor will it have to adopt gender identity policies for the workplace.
The Key Victory for Texas
The Obama-era rules, which were temporarily blocked by a U.S. district court in 2017, would have forced Texas to adopt policies concerning gender identity in the workplace and allow children to undergo sex-change procedures in order to receive federal funds.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led the lawsuit against the Obama-era rules, arguing that they violated state sovereignty and infringed on the right of parents to raise their children according to their religious beliefs.
The Trump administration declined to appeal the ruling, making it permanent. As a result, Texas will not have to adopt any policies concerning gender identity and will not be forced to allow children to undergo sex-change procedures in order to receive federal funds.
How the Biden Administration Handled the Case
The Biden administration had the opportunity to appeal the federal court’s ruling, but declined to do so. This means that the decision is now permanent.
Impact of This Ruling on Federal Policies
The effect of this ruling is that the federal government cannot force states to adopt policies concerning sexual orientation and gender identity in order to receive federal funding. This is a victory for states' rights and for those who do not want to see their tax dollars used to fund sex-change procedures for children.
It is also a victory for those who oppose the federal government's attempts to mandate gender identity policies in the workplace. These policies would have required employers to treat employees differently based on their "gender identity," rather than their biological sex.
This ruling protects the rights of states to set their own policies on these issues, and it protects the rights of individuals who do not want to be forced to conform to the federal government's view on these topics.
Ramifications on Workplace Gender Identity Policies
This is a huge victory for Texas and for conservatives who have been fighting against these “woke” federal mandates. It is a clear sign that the Biden administration is not interested in appeasing the radical left on these issues.
Conclusion
The decision is a victory for common sense and for the rights of parents to direct the upbringing of their children. The Obama-era policies were out of step with the overwhelming majority of Texans who believe that parents, not the government, should make decisions about their children’s health and welfare.
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