Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today condemned a decision by Attorney General Jeff Sessions that casts doubt on the right of asylum seekers to an evidentiary hearing before immigration judges. The organization notes that the move, announced in a s…
Read moreCategory: Social & Civil Issues
Administration Urged to Provide Transparency on Use of Force, Civilian Casualties
Human Rights First, urged President Trump to use congressionally-mandated reporting requirements as an opportunity to provide much-needed transparency on the United States’[…]
Read moreHRC Statement on NFL Team Asking About Player’s Sexual Orientation
HRC issued the following statement after multiple news outlets reported on an unnamed team asking NFL pro…
Read moreCDC Report Highlights Disparity in PrEP Usage Among Communities of Color in the U.S.
PrEP usage continues to remain low among communities who need it most in the U.S., according to a new rep…
Read moreHRC Responds to HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s Move to Erase Non-Discrimination from Mission Statement
Today, HRC responded to Secretary Ben Carson’s release of a new mission statement for the Departmen…
Read moreHawaii State Senate Votes to Protect LGBTQ Youth from Abusive Practice of “Conversion Therapy”
HRC praised the Hawaii State Senate for passing SB 270 — legislation protecting LGBTQ youth in the state…
Read moreThe Passing of Asma Jahangir
Tuesday, February 13, 2018 – 9:43amThe Passing of Asma JahangirElisa MassiminoNeil HicksHuman Rights First mourns the passing of the courageous, pioneering Pakistani lawyer and human rights defender, Asma Jahangir. We are proud of our long history of c…
Read moreSecure and Succeed Act Holds Dreamers Hostage, Punishes Asylum Seekers
Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today condemned introduction of the Secure and Succeed Act, calling the legislation a cruel attempt to punish asylum seekers and migrants through the use of prolonged detention and criminal prosecutions. The legislat…
Read moreTrump-Pence Administration Releases Dangerous and Irresponsible Anti-LGBTQ Budget
The Human Rights Campaign issued the following statement in response to the Trump-Pence Administration&rs…
Read moreDepartment of Education Admits to Rejecting Civil Rights Complaints From Trans Students
Today, HRC responded to a shocking admission by the Department of Education regarding their refusal to respond to civil rights complaints filed by transgender students who are barred from using bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity.
“While civil rights advocates have suspected that the Department of Education was not acting on complaints brought forward by transgender students, reports that these violations are completely being ignored are reprehensible,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “The department’s failure to act conflicts with the law in multiple jurisdictions, including federal circuits, and further emboldens those who seek to discriminate against transgender students. Once again, Secretary DeVos proves she is not interested in protecting transgender students and instead is choosing to advance the dangerous Trump-Pence anti-LGBTQ agenda.”
Federal appeals courts in the 6th and 7th Circuits have ruled that transgender students are indeed covered under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1974. Additional federal circuit courts have ruled that analogous federal civil rights statutes which prohibit sex discrimination also prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity. These rulings mean that the Department of Education is responsible for enforcing these decisions and accepting complaints that allege civil rights violations.
Just last week more than 700 parents of transgender children signed an HRC letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos condemning her failure to protect transgender students and calling on her to recognize the basic human and civil rights of transgender young people in our nation’s schools. Also last week, Secretary DeVos complained about being criticized for not upholding the rights of students.
Since the beginning of the Trump-Pence administration, the Department of Education, under the leadership of Secretary DeVos, has worked to undermine the protections and enforcement of our nation’s civil rights laws. These actions, from withdrawing important guidance that clarified schools’ obligations to protect transgender students from discrimination under Title IX to rescinding Obama-era Title IX guidance related to schools’ obligations to address sexual harassment and sexual violence, disproportionately impact LGBTQ people.
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