Stuart Condemns Federal Revisions Undermining the Integrity of Title IX Protections

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.— State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, releases the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Education reinstating Title IX protections implemented in 2020:

“Despite an illegal war raging, prices skyrocketing and national dissatisfaction growing, the current federal administration has decided to focus on dismantling Title IX protections for women and people in the LGBTQ+ community.

“This federal administration is claiming they’re protecting ‘women’s safety, dignity, and educational opportunities.’ Restricting access and opportunity to reporting cases of sexual assault and misconduct doesn’t protect survivors, it puts them at a bigger risk for fallout and a lower chance of justice. They initiated these changes with no opportunity for public comment or input from interest groups or experts in these fields.

“Illinois college students are protected by the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act, which has been in effect since 2015. Just last year, I proudly sponsored legislation to update the act, updating the base surveys institutions have to complete and allowing for them to be closely reviewed and address any issues found. Despite federal restrictions, college students will still have protections against sexual assault and abuse in state of Illinois.

“Title IX was designed to prohibit sex-based discrimination, and the current administration is interpreting this literally to allow gender and sexual orientation-based discrimination. This regression adds to the administration’s long list of examples of protecting perpetrators of sexual misconduct and silencing survivors.

“I will continue my efforts to ensure that all college students are afforded the safety and opportunity to report their abuse, seek assistance from medical professionals or other survivors and for justice to be served.”