Latest news with #OfficeofCivilRights
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Trump administration investigates Oregon's transgender athlete policies
The Trump administration said Friday it's investigating the Oregon Department of Education after receiving a complaint from a conservative non-profit group alleging the state was violating civil rights law by allowing transgender girls to compete on girls sports teams. It's the latest escalation in the Republican administration's effort to bar transgender athletes from women's sports teams nationwide. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February to block trans girls from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity. The administration says transgender athlete policies violate Title IX, the 1972 federal law that bans discrimination in education based on sex. Proponents of Trump's ban say it restores fairness in athletic competitions, but opponents say bans are an attack on transgender youth. The U.S. Education Department's Office of Civil Rights opened the Oregon investigation based on a complaint by the America First Policy Institute that alleges high-school aged female athletes had lost medals and competitive opportunities to transgender athletes. It follows a probe launched earlier this year into Portland Public Schools and the state's governing body for high school sports over alleged violations of Title IX for allowing trans girls to compete in girls sports. Earlier this month, the administration sued the California Department of Education for allowing transgender girls to compete on girls sports teams, alleging the policy violates federal law. Trump also filed a lawsuit in April alleging Maine violated Title IX by allowing trans girls and women to compete against other female athletes. Oregon law allows trans students to compete on sex-segregated sports teams consistent with their gender identity. Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a release Friday that the administration won't let educational institutions receive federal funds 'to continue trampling upon women's rights.' 'If Oregon is permitting males to compete in women's sports, it is allowing these males to steal the accolades and opportunities that female competitors have rightfully earned through hard work and grit, while callously disregarding women's and girls' safety, dignity, and privacy,' Trainor said. Messages seeking comment from the Oregon education officials were not immediately returned. Nate Lowery, spokesman for the Oregon School Activities Association, said they were reviewing the administration's notice with its legal counsel and doesn't have additional comments at this time. Three high school track-and-field athletes filed a lawsuit against Oregon in early July that seeks to overturn all sports records set by transgender girl athletes and prevent them from participating in girls sporting events. Wednesdays What's next in arts, life and pop culture. The complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Oregon alleges the state policy prohibiting schools from excluding student athletes from events that align with their gender identity violates Title IX. The students say it has harmed them through loss of competition, placements, and opportunities to advance to higher-level events. Jessica Hart Steinmann, executive general counsel at the America First Policy Institute, said the investigation is a step toward restoring equal opportunities for women's athletics. 'Title IX was meant to protect girls — not to undermine them — and we're hopeful this signals a return to that original purpose,' Steinmann said in a release. More than two dozen states have enacted laws barring transgender women and girls from participating in certain sports competitions. Some policies have been blocked in court. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case over state restrictions on which sports teams transgender athletes can join.
4 days ago
- Politics
Trump administration investigates Oregon's transgender athlete policies
The Trump administration said Friday it's investigating the Oregon Department of Education after receiving a complaint from a conservative non-profit group alleging the state was violating civil rights law by allowing transgender girls to compete on girls sports teams. It's the latest escalation in the Republican administration's effort to bar transgender athletes from women's sports teams nationwide. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February to block trans girls from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity. The administration says transgender athlete policies violate Title IX, the 1972 federal law that bans discrimination in education based on sex. Proponents of Trump's ban say it restores fairness in athletic competitions, but opponents say bans are an attack on transgender youth. The U.S. Education Department's Office of Civil Rights opened the Oregon investigation based on a complaint by the America First Policy Institute that alleges high-school aged female athletes had lost medals and competitive opportunities to transgender athletes. It follows a probe launched earlier this year into Portland Public Schools and the state's governing body for high school sports over alleged violations of Title IX for allowing trans girls to compete in girls sports. Earlier this month, the administration sued the California Department of Education for allowing transgender girls to compete on girls sports teams, alleging the policy violates federal law. Trump also filed a lawsuit in April alleging Maine violated Title IX by allowing trans girls and women to compete against other female athletes. Oregon law allows trans students to compete on sex-segregated sports teams consistent with their gender identity. Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a release Friday that the administration won't let educational institutions receive federal funds "to continue trampling upon women's rights.' 'If Oregon is permitting males to compete in women's sports, it is allowing these males to steal the accolades and opportunities that female competitors have rightfully earned through hard work and grit, while callously disregarding women's and girls' safety, dignity, and privacy," Trainor said. Messages seeking comment from the Oregon education officials were not immediately returned. Nate Lowery, spokesman for the Oregon School Activities Association, said they were reviewing the administration's notice with its legal counsel and doesn't have additional comments at this time. Three high school track-and-field athletes filed a lawsuit against Oregon in early July that seeks to overturn all sports records set by transgender girl athletes and prevent them from participating in girls sporting events. The complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Oregon alleges the state policy prohibiting schools from excluding student athletes from events that align with their gender identity violates Title IX. The students say it has harmed them through loss of competition, placements, and opportunities to advance to higher-level events. Jessica Hart Steinmann, executive general counsel at the America First Policy Institute, said the investigation is a step toward restoring equal opportunities for women's athletics. 'Title IX was meant to protect girls — not to undermine them — and we're hopeful this signals a return to that original purpose,' Steinmann said in a release. More than two dozen states have enacted laws barring transgender women and girls from participating in certain sports competitions. Some policies have been blocked in court.
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Trump administration investigates Oregon's transgender athlete policies
The Trump administration said Friday it's investigating the Oregon Department of Education after receiving a complaint from a conservative non-profit group alleging the state was violating civil rights law by allowing transgender girls to compete on girls sports teams. It's the latest escalation in the Republican administration's effort to bar transgender athletes from women's sports teams nationwide. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February to block trans girls from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity. The administration says transgender athlete policies violate Title IX , the 1972 federal law that bans discrimination in education based on sex. Proponents of Trump's ban say it restores fairness in athletic competitions, but opponents say bans are an attack on transgender youth. The U.S. Education Department's Office of Civil Rights opened the Oregon investigation based on a complaint by the America First Policy Institute that alleges high-school aged female athletes had lost medals and competitive opportunities to transgender athletes. It follows a probe launched earlier this year into Portland Public Schools and the state's governing body for high school sports over alleged violations of Title IX for allowing trans girls to compete in girls sports. Earlier this month, the administration sued the California Department of Education for allowing transgender girls to compete on girls sports teams, alleging the policy violates federal law. Trump also filed a lawsuit in April alleging Maine violated Title IX by allowing trans girls and women to compete against other female athletes. Oregon law allows trans students to compete on sex-segregated sports teams consistent with their gender identity. Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a release Friday that the administration won't let educational institutions receive federal funds 'to continue trampling upon women's rights.' 'If Oregon is permitting males to compete in women's sports, it is allowing these males to steal the accolades and opportunities that female competitors have rightfully earned through hard work and grit, while callously disregarding women's and girls' safety, dignity, and privacy,' Trainor said. Messages seeking comment from the Oregon education officials were not immediately returned. Nate Lowery, spokesman for the Oregon School Activities Association, said they were reviewing the administration's notice with its legal counsel and doesn't have additional comments at this time. Three high school track-and-field athletes filed a lawsuit against Oregon in early July that seeks to overturn all sports records set by transgender girl athletes and prevent them from participating in girls sporting events. The complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Oregon alleges the state policy prohibiting schools from excluding student athletes from events that align with their gender identity violates Title IX. The students say it has harmed them through loss of competition, placements, and opportunities to advance to higher-level events. Jessica Hart Steinmann, executive general counsel at the America First Policy Institute, said the investigation is a step toward restoring equal opportunities for women's athletics. 'Title IX was meant to protect girls — not to undermine them — and we're hopeful this signals a return to that original purpose,' Steinmann said in a release. More than two dozen states have enacted laws barring transgender women and girls from participating in certain sports competitions. Some policies have been blocked in court. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case over state restrictions on which sports teams transgender athletes can join.
New York Post
25-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Trump admin puts California put on notice over transgender athletes: ‘Clear violation'
WASHINGTON — California discriminated against women and girls by letting biological men compete on their sports teams and enter their bathrooms and locker rooms, a Trump administration civil rights probe concluded Wednesday. The US Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights determined that California's Education Department and Interscholastic Federation, which has received state funding, were in 'clear violation of Title IX' for having 'actively prevented this equality of opportunity by allowing males in girls' sports and intimate spaces.' The civil rights office has given the Golden State 10 days to reverse course — or face 'imminent enforcement action' that could include a referral to the Department of Justice. Advertisement 5 The US Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights determined that California's Education Department and Interscholastic Federation were in 'clear violation of Title IX.' Getty Images 'Although Governor Gavin Newsom admitted months ago it was 'deeply unfair' to allow men to compete in women's sports, both the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation continued as recently as a few weeks ago to allow men to steal female athletes' well-deserved accolades and to subject them to the indignity of unfair and unsafe competitions,' Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. 'The Trump Administration will relentlessly enforce Title IX protections for women and girls, and our findings today make clear that California has failed to adhere to its obligations under federal law. The state must swiftly come into compliance with Title IX or face the consequences that follow.' Advertisement The 1972 law is meant to protect equal opportunities regardless of sex in schools receiving federal funds. 5 California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on his podcast in March that it was 'deeply unfair' to allow men to compete in women's sports. JOHN G MABANGLO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Most Americans — and as many as 69% of Democrats — support sex-segregated sports participation, a New York Times poll found in January. Several Western nations — including the UK — have also banned or severely limited the practice of hormone therapy and providing puberty-blocking drugs to children, citing physical and psychological harms and the need for further study of long-term effects. Advertisement Past research studies show that transgender female athletes maintain a competitive advantage over their biological female peers even after undergoing hormone therapy to transition genders. 5 Trump's Education Department's word of warning for California also comes after the US Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law prohibiting hormone therapy for minors. Image of Sports/Newscom via ZUMA 'It wouldn't be a day ending in 'Y' without the Trump Administration threatening to defund California. Now Secretary McMahon is confusing government with her WrestleMania days — dramatic, fake, and completely divorced from reality,' said a spokesperson for Newsom. 'This won't stick.' The Trump Education Department's word of warning for California also comes after the US Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law prohibiting hormone therapy for minors. Advertisement To reverse course, the California educational entities must inform any recipients of federal funding to 'adopt biology-based definitions of the words 'male' and 'female,'' according to Trump's Education Department. California's Interscholastic Federation must also 'restore to female athletes all individual records, titles, and awards misappropriated by male athletes competing in female competitions' — including Katie McGuinness, who placed second against a trans athlete in the long jump at the federation's Southern Section Final last month. 5 The US Education Department launched the investigation into California's interscholastic sports federation on Feb. 12 after the organization said it was going to flout the president's executive order. Getty Images California's Education Department must in addition 'send a personalized letter apologizing on behalf of the state of California for allowing her educational experience to be marred by sex discrimination.' And the state office will have to annually certify that any recipients of federal funds are in compliance with Title IX. In California, there are nearly 6 million K-12 athletes but fewer than 10 are transgender, a state official noted. Just around 10 are transgender of the more than 500,000 NCAA student-athletes nationally. The Education Department launched the investigation into the state's interscholastic sports federation on Feb. 12 after the organization said it was going to flout the president's executive order preventing transgender athletes from competing in women's and girls' sports. 5 Katie McGuinness placed second against a trans athlete in the long jump at the California state federation's Southern Section Final last month. FOX News Advertisement The department has dubbed June 'Title IX Month' and is 'commemorating women's continued push for equal educational and athletic opportunity.' Reps for California's Education Department, Interscholastic Federation did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
New York Post
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
It's not just Trump — Biden found major civil-rights problems with Harvard too
Many people assume federal civil-rights scrutiny of antisemitism at Harvard is a recent, partisan development. Headlines shout about President 'Trump's War on Harvard,' 'Trump's Harvard Vendetta' and 'His Harvard Hate Campaign.' In fact, such oversight is required by law and has been enforced consistently by both Republican and Democratic administrations, including the last one. Advertisement The Biden team raised concerns that Harvard's response to antisemitic-harassment complaints didn't fully comply with the Civil Rights Act's Title VI — with some echoing those found in the Trump administration's April 11 demand letter. Harvard quietly entered into a voluntary resolution agreement with the Biden Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights Jan. 17, days before the university settled two lawsuits with Jewish students — and days before Trump re-entered the White House. 5 The administrations of both Donald Trump (left) and Joe Biden examined Harvard's civil-rights problems. POOL/AFP via Getty Images Advertisement I've been working directly with Jewish Harvard students since the campus exploded in October 2023, so these findings did not surprise me. I witnessed firsthand the distress and frustration many experienced and watched closely as the university failed to respond effectively. In one glaring example, two students charged with assault and battery of a Jewish student during an Oct. 18, 2023, anti-Israel campus protest weren't disciplined. Instead, Harvard rewarded them. The Harvard Law Review gave Ibrahim Bharmal a $65,000 fellowship. Advertisement Bharmal, featured on the law school's admissions website, will spend his fellowship at California's chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations — whose cofounder and executive director, Nihad Awad, said, 'I was happy to see people breaking the siege' with Gaza's Oct. 7 attack. The other student, Elom Tettey-Tamaklo, was voted a class marshal by his Harvard Divinity School classmates. Harvard let both students graduate without consequence. 5 Two students charged with assaulting a Jewish student during an October 2023 anti-Israel protest weren't disciplined. Twitter/AvivaKlompas The resolution agreement, which should help all students, is significant, but it barely made news. Harvard made no public announcement. Most media outlets ignored the story. Advertisement Instead, much coverage misleadingly frames federal scrutiny of campus antisemitism as beginning with the new Trump-era task force. I strongly support the rule of law and its being applied equally to all. I champion — at the same time — the First Amendment, federal funding of lawful basic research and robust enforcement of civil-rights protections. But let's be clear: Assault, discrimination, harassment, vandalism, trespassing and support for terrorist organizations are not protected speech. I write this as an American citizen and registered Democrat. The Office of Civil Rights launched its investigation into Harvard in November 2023, following allegations of discrimination and harassment against Jewish students. While it later closed this investigation — a standard practice when federal lawsuits are proceeding — it maintained its oversight. In a heartening development, even as the Biden team reviewed Harvard's handling of Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students' harassment claims, it continued to examine records and information directly related to the harassment of Jewish students. 5 Harvard gave a funded fellowship to Ibrahim Bharmal, one of the students. Instagram/betterdays_arecoming25/ The OCR's Jan. 17 letter referenced the two federal lawsuits filed in 2024 alleging Harvard's 'deliberate indifference' and noted several disturbing examples. A federal court cited in one suit an allegation of 'student-on-student harassment' and denied Harvard's motion to dismiss both lawsuits. Students repeatedly told me they struggled to find the appropriate channels to report harassment. When they did file complaints, responses were often slow, inadequate or dismissive — falling short of the prompt and effective response Title VI requires. Advertisement Even more troubling, Harvard would not pursue investigations unless students revealed their identities to alleged harassers. This policy had a chilling effect, discouraging students from coming forward. Besides violating Title VI, the university may have breached its duty of care to ensure students' physical safety. 5 Elom Tettey-Tamaklo (left) spent time in Palestine before attending Harvard Divinity School. The OCR confirmed these failures and found Harvard often failed to create or keep records of complaints — a serious compliance lapse that undermines accountability. Advertisement At many Harvard schools, the offices generally responsible for handling discrimination complaints — formerly called Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging — appeared not to have fulfilled their duties. Harvard has since renamed these offices, but a new name is not enough. Notably, the Biden agreement, which required Harvard to submit revised policies and procedures to the Office of Civil Rights by May 17 for review and approval, closely mirrors language from the Trump administration's April 11 letter — which also called on Harvard to 'immediately reform its student discipline policies and procedures so as to swiftly and transparently enforce its existing disciplinary policies with consistency and impartiality.' Both administrations focused on reviewing Harvard's response to reports of a hostile environment during the 2023-2025 academic years. Advertisement The Biden deal requires Harvard to provide 'all formal and informal reports or complaints, received by the University alleging harassment based on shared ancestry, and the University's response to those reports or complaints.' Similarly, the Trump administration required that 'Harvard must investigate and carry out meaningful discipline for all violations that occurred during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years.' 5 The author, Clarence Schwab, has heard from countless harassed Harvard students. The resolution agreement is a step forward. Whether Harvard's revised policies and efforts will be enough remains to be seen. Advertisement The findings of Harvard's own Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias vindicated these concerns and the need for decisive action. The task force further recommends that Harvard develop a central hub for pluralism, implicitly acknowledging the need to protect academic freedom from Harvard's own monoculture — a culture that has driven away distinguished scholars and researchers and led to documented discrimination against Jewish students and others. Harvard also has to do more to comply with its January 2025 settlement with suing Jewish students. While all terms are not public, Harvard did commit to hiring someone to oversee all complaints of antisemitism — but still hasn't announced anyone for that position. I'm committed to helping Harvard return to its stated mission and to improving everyone on campus' safety and well-being. Equal civil rights, as guaranteed the Civil Rights Act's Title VI and Title VII, should be a nonpartisan, uncontroversial American value. Clarence Schwab is the founder and managing partner of Kronor Capital and a cofounder of Harvard Jewish Alumni Alliance.
