US Department of Education releases Title IX Resource Guide providing further LGBTQ details and guidance

Today the US Department of Education released the Title IX Resource Guide providing further details and guidance on how to apply Title IX protections in education.

Campus Pride’s Executive Director Shane Windmeyer issued this statement:

“Higher education needs to be held accountable for a safe learning environment for LGBTQ students.  The Title IX resource guide is a welcome addition to the work Campus Pride does across the nation to support colleges and universities. The guide better communicates th
e Title IX scope, standards of practice and makes abundantly clear that Title IX includes ‘sexual orientation, gender identity’ as well as ‘sex discrimination, including… failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity.’  The US Department of Education has set the bar for accountability with Title IX in this guide – and by doing so, has also mandated that top administrators, faculty and staff become educated and equipped to handle LGBTQ concerns.  There is a steep learning curve at eighty percent of colleges and universities still today when it comes to LGBTQ issues, especially for transgender people and other intersections of identity for LGBTQ people.  We look forward to continue helping campuses, and our LGBTQ students, with Title IX support and with LGBTQ education and awareness to make their campuses safer.”

Excerpt from the Title IX Resource Guide Scope of Title IX:

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities in federally funded schools at all levels.  If any part of a school district or college receives any Federal funds for any purpose, all of the operations of the district or college are covered by Title IX. Title IX protects students, employees, applicants for admission and employment, and other persons from all forms of sex discrimination, including discrimination based on gender identity or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity. All students (as well as other persons) at recipient institutions are protected by Title IX—regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, part- or full-time status, disability, race, or national origin—in all aspects of a recipient’s educational programs and activities. As part of their obligations under Title IX, all recipients of Federal financial assistance must designate at least one employee to coordinate their efforts to comply with and carry out their responsibilities under Title IX and must notify all students and employees of that employee’s contact information.

Download the “US Department of Education Title IX Resource Guide”   Campus Pride encourages colleges and universities to receive the necessary training and awareness for Title IX at the LGBTQ Professional Academy for Advisors to held July 14-19, 2015 in Charlotte, NC.  Plus colleges and universities can assess their LGBTQ-inclusive policies, programs and practices by participating for FREE in the Campus Pride Index at CamupsPrideIndex.org.

Campus Pride is the leading national educational organization for LGBTQ and ally college students and campus groups building future leaders and safer, more LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities. The organization provides resources and services to thousands of college students and nearly 1400 campuses annually. Learn more online at CampusPride.org