TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, in partnership with California and Pennsylvania, announced the filing of two amicus briefs defending Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students. The briefs were submitted on behalf of a multistate coalition in federal appellate courts, aiming to reverse a preliminary injunction that could negatively impact schools in multiple states.
The briefs were filed in Louisiana v. U.S. Department of Education in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and Kansas v. U.S. Department of Education in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Both cases challenge the U.S. Department of Education’s Final Rule, which expanded protections for LGBTQ+ students under Title IX, and which opponents argue should be rolled back to the 2020 standards.
“In a free and fair country, all students should be protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity,” said Attorney General Platkin. “We will keep fighting for these students, no matter where they go to school.”
Sundeep Iyer, Director of the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, added, “Title IX’s protections remain critical, and we will continue working with our state counterparts to defend Title IX and ensure that all students are protected from sex discrimination and harassment.”
The amicus briefs argue that the Final Rule provides necessary protections for LGBTQ+ students, better aligns with the text of Title IX, and does not impose undue burdens on schools. In New Jersey, the Law Against Discrimination (LAD) already offers similar protections, ensuring that all students have equal access to education free from harassment and discrimination.
The coalition includes Attorneys General from 20 states and the District of Columbia, joining New Jersey, California, and Pennsylvania in their efforts to defend the rights of LGBTQ+ students nationwide.
