Transgender law in effect

New federal protections for transgender and LGBTQ+ students under Title IX are set to take effect, but their implementation is significantly hindered by temporary judicial blocks in 26 states, including Alabama, Florida, and Texas. The Biden administration's regulation, which defines sex discrimination to include gender identity and requires schools to allow students to access facilities that align with their gender identity, faces pushback from Republican-led lawsuits. This has created a patchwork of enforcement, where some schools may comply while others do not, leading to confusion as the academic year begins. Additionally, the regulation expands protections for pregnant students and outlines how schools should handle sexual misconduct complaints. As the situation develops, the Justice Department has sought Supreme Court intervention to allow parts of the regulation to be enforced while litigation continues. The broader context reveals an ongoing political battle over transgender rights, particularly in Republican-controlled states that have enacted restrictive laws regarding gender-affirming care and participation in sports.