Question

Which statement is true with respect to whether requiring students to use the restroom that correlates with their biological sex is prohibited by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972?

a) Title IX explicitly allows such restroom requirements.
b) Title IX prohibits such restroom requirements as a form of gender discrimination.
c) Title IX is silent on the issue of restroom requirements.
d) Title IX only applies to academic matters, not restroom policies.

Answer 1

Title IX has been interpreted to protect transgender students from discrimination, including the right to use restrooms according to their gender identity, even though Title IX itself does not explicitly cover restroom policies.

Step-by-step explanation:

The query concerns whether requiring students to use the restroom that corresponds with their biological sex is prohibited by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972. Option b) Title IX prohibits such restroom requirements as a form of gender discrimination is the closest to accuracy, given the developments over recent years. Initially, Title IX does not explicitly address restroom policies, but federal interpretations and guidance have evolved to include gender identity under Title IX protections. For instance, directives in 2014 by the United States Department of Education supported the interpretation that transgender students are protected from discrimination under Title IX, offering them the right to access facilities based on their gender identification. While this position has witnessed changes in administrative guidance, notably with a rollback in 2017, legal and advocacy efforts have generally moved towards recognizing the rights of transgender students to use restrooms corresponding to their gender identity.