Florida leaders react to Biden’s Title IX change: ‘We will not comply.’

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida leaders reacted to the U.S. Department of Education’s new Title IX rules as the state plans to fight the new rule.

“Florida rejects Joe Biden’s attempt to rewrite Title IX,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said. “We will not comply and we will fight back.”

In a letter to superintendents obtained by Florida’s Voice, Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said the rule will not take effect until Aug. 1, and that the state “will fight this.”

“At Governor Ron DeSantis’ direction, no educational institution should begin implementing any changes,” the letter stated.

The letter noted the U.S. Department of Education released rulemaking changes to the regulations implementing Title IX on April 19.

The rule “prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.”

Florida’s First Lady Casey DeSantis thanked the governor and Diaz for “continuing to fight this nonsense.”

“Yep, Florida is fighting back against Biden’s attack on truth. And we’re proud of it!” DeSantis’ Communications Director Bryan Griffin said.

The final new regulations promote “educational equity” and “opportunity for students across the country as well as accountability and fairness, while empowering and supporting students and families.”

Diaz said the Biden administration “maims the statute beyond recognition” in an attempt to “gaslight the country into believing that biological sex no longer has any meaning.”

“In doing so, it seeks to commandeer Florida’s educational institutions and force them to violate various federal and state laws, including the First Amendment and Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, as well as statutes to protect students’ privacy in bathrooms and locker rooms,” Diaz wrote.

“In Florida, we respect parents’ rights to direct their children’s education. We protect our students’ safety and privacy. And we make sure every student is given the chance to thrive on and off campus. We will keep pressing to accomplish these goals,” the letter continued.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said the state plans to “challenge this betrayal of women in court.”

“Biden’s new Title IX rules shred protections for women—that so many fought for over decades,” Moody said.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., said he is “proud” to be supporting efforts in the House to “block this rule under the Congressional Review Act.”

Moms for Liberty sent a letter to the National Governors Association, informing them that “unless states act promptly to defend our fundamental rights, the Biden Administration’s new Title IX regulations will become the law of the land, resulting in parents losing a significant role in their children’s instruction and care.”

“Please step up to support and defend schools that are sanctioned under this absurd rule,” Moms for Liberty wrote. “We urge you to take any and all necessary legal measures to safeguard fundamental parental rights.”

The group explained with the new rules in Title IX, it now “erases women and girls,” and “ignores the constitution.”

“Once again, parents are caught in the middle of a hurricane,” the group wrote. “The government is coming down with all of its authoritative force, luckily we have science, data, and our inherent knowledge about what is best for our children to fight back against the onslaught of transgender ideology pummeling our families.”

Moms for Liberty pointed to states like California and Washington where “this type of overreach by government” has been taking place with gender identity and sexual orientation instruction being pushed in schools, as well as “secret social transitions happening behind the backs of parents and schools deeming parents are a threat if they don’t affirm their child’s wish to ‘change their gender.’”

The group said the new rules “should be particularly alarming” to 19 states who have parental rights laws in place, saying “Title IX just usurped those state laws.”

“All 19 states ought to stand united against this federal overreach,” they wrote.

Moms for Liberty included the governors and attorneys general of Florida, Montana, Georgia, North Dakota, Iowa, Alabama, and North Carolina in the letter and said “they should be the first ones stepping up to the plate to once again push back on the federal government blocking parents from decisions affecting their children in public schools.”

“Replacing key Title IX protections with radical gender theory puts government bureaucrats in the driver’s seat and kicks parents out of the rhetorical car completely,” the group said. “Please don’t let that stand. The time to fight for truth and children is now.”