
Catholic educators and bishops are asking the Department of Education to reject a proposed rule change that would force K–12 schools and higher education institutions to allow biologically male students to participate in female athletics in certain cases if they receive federal funding.
The proposed rule would amend the current regulations set by Title IX to restructure how schools have to address transgender issues in athletics. The rule would require institutions to allow some students to participate in athletics programs that match their self-proclaimed gender identity, even if it is different from the student’s biological sex.
A public comment filed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Catholic Educational Association, and The Catholic University of America on May 15 urges regulators to reject the proposal. “The [proposal] imposes an inaccurate view of human nature and sexuality,” the comment from the Catholic institutions said.