Iowa governor asks attorney general to litigate Title IX rule changes

(The Center Square) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Monday she is asking Attorney General Brenna Bird to litigate over revisions to Title IX rules by the Biden administration.

The revision changes the word “sex” to “gender identity.” The rule takes effect on Aug. 1. 

“By attempting to redefine sex to include gender identity and sexual orientation in Title IX, President Biden is marginalizing girls and women,” Reynolds said. “There are undeniable and important biological differences between males and females. It’s a fact that cannot be denied, no matter how inconvenient it is for the president during an election year. I’ve asked the Attorney General’s office to litigate this outrageous rule that attempts to use federal funds to force our communities to ignore parental rights, due process, free speech, and protected intimate spaces.” 

Several states have already sued the Biden administration. Tennessee, West Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia filed a lawsuit in Kentucky last month. Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina are part of a lawsuit filed in Alabama. Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana and Idaho have joined together in a court filing.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said last week her state would not comply with the new rule. 

“If President Biden threatens our state with loss of education funding because we refuse to go along with his election year pandering, Arkansas will take the federal government to court,” Sanders said at a news conference also attended by former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines. 

Officials in Florida, Texas and Oklahoma have also said they will not comply with the rule.