Idaho Gov. Little accuses feds of ‘radical redefinition of gender,’ issues executive order

Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — Standing connected nan Capitol steps, Gov. Brad Little praised Idaho for being nan first authorities successful nan state to walk a rule banning transgender women from participating successful female sports.

“Idaho stands pinch female athletes,” nan crowd chanted, conscionable earlier Little signed an executive bid that he said would guarantee girls and women person adjacent opportunities successful sports.

The bid directs nan Idaho State Board of Education to activity pinch nan State Department of Education to guarantee nationalist schools travel authorities laws connected women’s sports. Schools successful Idaho are already required to travel authorities and national laws.

Little’s bid besides directs nan Idaho State Board of Education to update schools connected nan ineligible challenges to nan caller Title IX rule, which would person expanded activity favoritism to see intersexual predisposition and gender identity. A national judge temporarily blocked nan caller Title IX rule from taking effect successful Idaho and different states successful June.

RELATED | Rep. Barbara Ehardt travels state connected ‘Take Back Title IX Tour,’ promoting women’s-only athletics and backstage spaces

The State Board of Education is besides directed to “guarantee each female student successful Idaho beryllium provided adjacent opportunity successful sports and schoolhouse to nan fullest extent” guaranteed nether nan original Title IX rules, nan executive bid reads.

“These girls and women and their families dedicate their time, passion and often their money to amended their skills, to compete and win,” Little said. “That is why it is truthful important for america arsenic a authorities to do each we tin to protect and take sides women’s sports.”

Little stood adjacent to Riley Gaines, a erstwhile competitory swimmer who has been an outspoken sound against trans women participating successful women’s sports, arsenic Gaines talked astir her acquisition competing pinch a trans woman.

“I tin wholeheartedly attest to nan unfair competition,” she said. “I tin wholeheartedly attest to nan utmost discomfort successful nan locker room.”

Little: Title IX norm is simply a ‘radical redefinition of gender’

A national judge successful June ruled successful favour of a preliminary injunction aft 4 Republican attorneys general, including Idaho’s Raúl Labrador, sued nan national authorities complete nan caller Title IX rule, which President Joe Biden’s management said would protect LGBTQ+ students successful school. Labrador based on that nan caller regulations undermined nan intent of Title IX.

The caller norm would person expanded activity favoritism to not only see gender personality and intersexual orientation, but besides gestation aliases related conditions. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an effort by nan Biden management to assistance nan block.

Little called nan caller Title IX norm a “radical redefinition of gender” and said it would jeopardize nan activity Idaho has done.

Idaho has been a leader successful passing laws that target LGBTQ+ group successful nan state. Many of those laws are now being litigated.

A Boise State University student sued nan authorities aft nan Legislature passed a rule banning trans women from sports that align pinch their gender personality successful schools successful 2020. Idaho asked nan U.S. Supreme Court to perceive nan lawsuit past month.

In caller years, lawmakers besides passed bills that barroom transgender children from accessing gender-affirming care, prohibit teachers from utilizing pronouns that disagree from a student’s activity astatine commencement without genitor approval, and prohibition Medicaid and authorities wellness security costs from being utilized for gender-affirming care.