Carper, Coons, Blunt Rochester Join Colleagues in Filing Supreme Court Amicus Brief to Support Rights of Transgender Students

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) joined nearly 200 of their colleagues in filing a U.S. Supreme Court brief explaining that transgender and gender non-conforming students are protected from discrimination under a federal education law called Title IX.

The amicus brief was filed today in the Supreme Court case Gloucester County School Board v. G.G., which could decide whether transgender students have the right to a public education free from discrimination and harassment. In the brief, the senators and representatives argue that Title IX — the education law that prohibits discrimination in education on the basis of sex — clearly protects transgender and gender non-conforming youth.     

“Title IX was enacted to protect vulnerable students from discrimination on the basis of sex and guarantee that these at-risk students receive equal educational opportunities,” wrote the lawmakers. “Title IX’s prohibition on discrimination ‘on the basis of sex’ encompasses discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex stereotypes.”

This is the first time the Supreme Court will consider whether transgender students are protected from discrimination by our federal civil rights laws. Over the past two years, there have been increasing state-level efforts to undermine nondiscrimination protections for transgender people, and the senators and representative say a victory in this Supreme Court case is vital to ensuring that all students are able to be safe and respected in school.

You can download a full copy of the amicus brief by clicking here. Below, you can read quotes from some of Delaware’s leading LGBT advocacy organizations, American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware and Equality Delaware:

“The American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware thanks Senators Carper and Coons and Representative Blunt Rochester for joining with their colleagues to stand for the rights of transgender students today,” said Kathleen MacRae, Executive Director, ACLU of Delaware, Inc. “Their support sends the clear message that Delaware stands together to promote safe and secure school communities for all students free from stigma and harassment, no matter their sexual or gender identity.”

“Equality Delaware applauds Senators Carper and Coons and Congresswoman Blunt Rochester for their action to support transgender youth and protect them from discrimination,” said Lisa Goodman, President, Equality Delaware, Inc. “Having the support of Delaware’s entire federal delegation sends an important message of love and inclusion to young transgender Delawareans”

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