Seventeen States Challenge Gender Dysphoria Inclusion in Section 504 Lawsuit

Seventeen states, including Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, have filed a lawsuit challenging the Biden administration's addition of 'gender dysphoria' to the definition of disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The lawsuit argues that this change not only expands the definition unconstitutionally but also threatens the integrity of all accommodations provided under Section 504, which supports students with various disabilities. Disability advocates express concern that if Section 504 is deemed unconstitutional, vital protections for students with disabilities could be lost. The states involved argue that the federal government is overreaching by coercing states into compliance through federal funding requirements. Opponents of the lawsuit assert that the constitutionality of Section 504 itself is not in question and emphasize the importance of maintaining protections for individuals with disabilities. The legal dispute raises alarms about the future of disability rights and supports in educational settings across the nation.