Federal Title IX changes debated at Williamson County Board of Education meeting
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Twenty GOP-led states are suing the Biden Administration to stop the president’s proposed Title IX changes at the federal level. The changes and their potential impact brought parents on both sides out to the Williamson County Board of Education Meeting on May 20.
President Joe Biden’s proposal reinstates protections for students who are survivors of sexual assault and harassment and LGBTQ+ students. The changes look to give clear-cut instructions for educators to quickly and effectively respond to all sex-based discrimination at school.
Plus, under certain circumstances, the regulations allow students to use facilities that match their gender identity and require the use of a transgender person’s name and pronouns.
During public comment at the Williamson County Board of Education meeting, community members voiced how this will impact educational experiences.
Those in support of Biden’s Title IX proposal said it will foster a welcoming and inclusive environment.
“We can save children’s lives, we can keep our kids alive,” said Braunwyn Windham-Burke, a former cast member of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Orange County.”
On the other side, parents with Moms for Liberty Williamson County said there will be a large number of students who feel unsafe because of the proposed changes.
“There are a whole group of kids who are going to feel intimidated if they use the wrong pronouns,” said Carolyn Brown with Moms for Liberty. “The other thing we need to look at is the big picture. The way these changes have occurred has not been constitutional.”