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Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. v. U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice.

Status: Closed
Court:
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit to compel the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice to release information about their decision to withdraw guidance detailing the protections transgender students have under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which bans discrimination in education on the basis of sex. After the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice rescinded the guidance in February, Lambda Legal filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for documents and communications on the decision to withdraw the guidance.

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The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice have failed to comply with the FOIA requests and have not released a single document to Lambda Legal.

Issued in 2016 during President Obama’s Administration, the guidance reaffirmed that Title IX’s ban on sex discrimination includes discrimination on the basis of gender identity and clarified for schools and districts their responsibilities to protect transgender students under Title IX.

In addition to requiring schools to allow transgender students to use the restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity, the guidance provided clarification on name and pronoun use, privacy, dress codes and protection of students from bullying and harassment.

Read our FAQ: What did Obama do for transgender students and how did Trump take it away?

If you're a trans student whose been affected by the Trump administration's guidance withdrawal, contact Lambda Legal here.