A parental rights group successfully delayed a Colorado school board’s vote on a transgender policy for students.
The Colorado Parent Advocacy Network collected 335 signatures in six hours to delay the Douglas County Board of Education’s vote on classifying female-only spaces as discriminatory. The group now has until August to oppose the policy, which aligns with Title IX changes supported by President Biden.
“If they had voted ‘yes’ yesterday, it would have cemented that biological males could be in girl spaces by policy,” said Lori Gimelshteyn, the network’s executive director. “This policy aligns with Title IX changes pushed by Biden’s administration.”
Title IX is a federal law prohibiting sexual discrimination in federally funded schools.
The proposed policy prohibits discrimination by “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in all school activities and facilities, allowing boys to share restrooms and participate in girls’ sports. Opponents could be accused of harassment under Title IX.
Douglas County School District spokeswoman Anna Hriso emphasized their commitment to making all students feel safe and welcome, including transgender students. She noted such situations are rare and handled individually.
The Biden administration’s April reinterpretation of Title IX added protections based on “gender identity,” which several states have challenged as discriminatory.
The Colorado Parent Advocacy Network’s petition aims to pause the vote until Title IX changes are finalized, allowing more time for review and parent engagement. The group’s goal is to “protect the safety and well-being of all students.”
Gimelshteyn criticized the policy for prioritizing the comfort of transgender students over the safety of girls. She is encouraged that parents across the political spectrum are standing up for their rights and children’s safety.
“This is a matter of right versus wrong,” she said. “We need to return to academic rigor, secure and safe schools, and parental authority in education.”
