Judge blocks Title IX update in Arkansas and five other states

A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked a Biden administration rule extending an update to Title IX with protections for LGBTQ+ students.

State of play: The ruling is the result of a lawsuit brought by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and five other states in May.

• At least 20 states have blocked the new policy after similar complaints.

Catch up quick: The federal rule protects against "discrimination based on sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics."

• The policy did not address transgender athletes, and the federal Education Department said its "rulemaking process is still ongoing for a Title IX regulation related to athletics."
• The changes were scheduled to take effect Aug. 1.

Flashback: Before Griffin sued the federal Education Department — along with Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an executive order telling state offices to disregard the new rule .

• Specific Arkansas laws noted in Sanders' order ban students from using a multiple-occupancy changing area not consistent with the sex on their birth certificate; prohibits requirements to use a student's preferred pronouns without parental permission; and bans transgender girls from female-designated sports leagues.

What we're watching: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill earlier this month that would permanently halt the Education Department's new policy.

• It's been sent to the U.S. Senate.

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