National
DOJ seeks (even more) clarity on anti-trans court order
Obama administration says scope of injunction should be limited
The Justice Department is seeking clarification of an anti-trans court order.
Weeks after an order from a federal judge barring the enforcement of Obama administration guidance prohibiting discrimination against transgender students in schools, the U.S. Justice Department is seeking clarification of the order and arguing its scope should be limited.
In a 32-page filing — submitted Monday and signed by Principal Deputy Attorney General for the Civil Division Benjamin Mizer, who’s gay, and other U.S. attorneys — the Justice Department says the order could be construed “to extend well beyond the appropriate scope of potential relief” and seeks verification the order should be limited to the guidance.
“The preliminary injunction thus may have unintended effects on the ability of the executive branch to carry out the duties and obligations assigned to it by Congress in other settings, under other statutes, and outside the plaintiff states, and would undermine the agencies’ ability to protect individuals from forms of discrimination that are not at issue in this case,” the filing says.
Among other things, the filing calls on the court to clarify the order is limited to federal law on education, not employment; permits the federal government to urge courts to adopt its interpretation of civil rights law; and maintains activities at the Department of Labor. Additionally, the filing calls on the court to allow the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. agency charged with enforcing workplace non-discrimination law, to perform duties to protect transgender people from discrimination.
“[T]he EEOC serves as a gatekeeper for an individual’s federal complaints of employment discrimination, because some of its actions in the administrative charge process have been deemed by the courts to be prerequisites to suit for charging parties,” the filing says. “Therefore, nonperformance of these actions by the EEOC could result in depriving individuals of their right to pursue relief on their own behalf in court.”
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, an appointee of George W. Bush, issued the order against joint guidance from the Departments of Education and Justice prohibiting school discrimination against transgender students, including in restroom use, as a result litigation led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on behalf of 12 states.
But the order in far-reaching language says the federal government is “enjoined from initiating, continuing, or concluding any investigation based on Defendants’ interpretation that the definition of sex includes gender identity in Title IX’s prohibition against discrimination on the basis of sex.”
As a result of the request for clarification, O’Connor gave Paxton a deadline of Sept. 19 to file a response and the Justice Department a deadline of Sept. 23 to submit a reply.
The Justice Department filling comes on the heels of an earlier filing late last month from the Obama administration seeking clarification the order doesn’t bar the federal government from participating in litigation alleging anti-trans discrimination. Among these lawsuits is a case filed filed in March 2015 alleging the Southeastern Oklahoma State University discriminated transgender English professor Rachel Tudor because of her gender identity.
In a separate filing on Monday, Tudor seeks to intervene in the case on the basis that its outcome could affect her litigation against Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
“If this court determines that the Texas Injunction enjoins any aspect of the Oklahoma Litigation, then Dr. Tudor’s putative Complaint in Intervention raises a claim that shares with the main action a common question of law or fact insofar as she seeks relief from the Texas Injunction and any further efforts by Plaintiffs to re-litigate issues and otherwise interfere with proceedings in the Oklahoma Litigation,” the filing says.
Federal Government
House Republicans push nationwide ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill
Measures would restrict federal funding for LGBTQ-affirming schools
Republicans have been gaining ground in reshaping education policy to be less inclusive toward LGBTQ students at the state level, and now they are turning their focus to Capitol Hill.
Some GOP lawmakers are pushing for a nationwide “Don’t Say Gay” bill, doubling down on their commitment to being the party of “traditional family values” by excluding anyone who does not identify with their sex at birth.
The largest anti-LGBTQ education legislation to reach the House chamber is House Bill 2616 — the Parental Rights Over the Education and Care of Their Kids Act, or the PROTECT Kids Act. The PROTECT Kids Act, proposed by U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), and co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Burgess Owens (R-Utah), Mary Miller (R-Ill.), Robert Onder (R-Mo.), and Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.), would require any public elementary and middle schools that receive federal funding to require parental consent to change a child’s gender expression in school.
The bill, which was discussed during Tuesday’s House Rules Committee hearing, would specifically require any schools that get federal money from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 — which was created to minimize financial discrepancies in education for low-income students — to get parental approval before identifying any child’s gender identity as anything other than what was provided to the school initially. This includes getting approval before allowing children to use their preferred locker room or bathroom.
It reads that any school receiving this funding “shall obtain parental consent before changing a covered student’s (1) gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form; or (2) sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.”
LGBTQ rights advocates have criticized both national and state efforts to require parental permission to use a child’s preferred gender identity, as it raises issues of at-home safety — especially if the home is not LGBTQ-affirming — and could lead to the outing of transgender or gender-curious students.
A follow-up bill, HB 2617, proposed by Owens, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, prevents the use of federal funding to “advance concepts related to gender ideology,” using the definition from President Donald Trump’s 2025 Executive Order 14168, making that an enshrined definition in law of sex rather than just by executive order. There is also a bill making its way through the senate with the same text— Senate Bill 2251.
Advocates have also criticized this follow-up legislation, as it would restrict school staff — including teachers and counselors — from acknowledging trans students’ identities or providing any support. They have said that this kind of isolation can worsen mental health outcomes for LGBTQ youth and allows for education to be politicized rather than being based in reality.
David Stacy, the Human Rights Campaign’s vice president of government affairs, called this legislation out for using LGBTQ children as political pawns in an ideology fight — one that could greatly harm the safety of these children if passed.
“Trans kids are not a political agenda — they are students who deserve safety and affirmation at school like anyone else,” Stacy said in a statement. “Despite the many pressing issues facing our nation, House Republicans continue their bizarre obsession with trans people. H.R. 2616 does not protect children. It targets them. This bill is cruel, and we’re prepared to fight it.”
This is similar to Florida House Bills 1557 and 1069, referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and “Don’t Say They” bill, respectively, restricting classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity, prohibiting the use of pronouns consistent with one’s gender identity, expanding book banning procedures, and censoring health curriculum.
The American Civil Liberties Union is tracking 233 bills related to restricting student and educator rights in the U.S.
National
BREAKING NEWS: Shots fired at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Shooter reportedly opened fire inside hotel
Four loud bangs were heard in the International Ballroom of the Washington Hilton during the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.
According to the Associated Press, a shooter opened fire inside the hotel outside the ballroom.
Attendees could hear four loud bangs as people started to duck and take cover. During the chaos sounds of salad and glasses were dropped as hotel employees, and guests ducked for cover.
The head table — which included President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, first lady Melania Trump, and White House Correspondents Association President Weijia Jiang — were rushed off stage.
“The U.S. Secret Service, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department, is investigating a shooting incident near the main magnetometer screening area at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” the U.S. Secret Service said in a statement. “The president and the First Lady are safe along all protects. One individual is in custody. The condition of those involved is not yet known, and law enforcement is actively assessing the situation.”
Trump held a press conference at the White House after he left the hotel.
“A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons and he was taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service,” said Trump.
Trump said the shooter is from California. He also said an officer was shot, but said his bullet proof vest “saved” him.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, interim D.C. police chief Jeffrey Carroll, U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro, and other officials held their own press conference at the hotel.
Carroll said the gunman who has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen was armed with a shotgun, handgun, and “multiple” knives when he charged a Secret Service checkpoint in a hotel lobby. Carroll also told reporters that law enforcement “exchanged gunfire with that individual.”
Both he and Bowser said the gunman appeared to act alone.
“We are so very thankful to members of law enforcement who did their jobs tonight and made sure all guests were safe,” said Bowser. “Nobody else was involved.”
The Washington Blade will update this story as details become more available.
State Department
State Department implements anti-trans bathroom policy
Memo notes directive corresponds with White House executive order
The State Department on April 20 announced employees cannot use bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity.
The Daily Signal, a conservative news website, reported the State Department announced the new policy in a memo titled “Updates Regarding Biological Sex and Intimate Spaces, Including Restrooms.”
The State Department has not responded to the Washington Blade’s request for comment on the directive.
“The administration affirms that there are two sexes — male and female — and that federal facilities should operate on this objective and longstanding basis to ensure consistency, privacy, and safety in shared spaces,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggot told the Daily Signal. “In line with President Trump’s executive order this provides clear, uniform guidance to the department by grounding policy in biological sex as determined at birth.”
President Donald Trump shortly after he took office in January 2025 issued an executive order that directed the federal government to only recognize two genders: male and female. The sweeping directive also ordered federal government agencies to “effectuate this policy by taking appropriate action to ensure that intimate spaces designated for women, girls, or females (or for men, boys, or males) are designated by sex and not identity.”
The Daily Signal notes the new State Department policy “does not prohibit single-occupancy restrooms.”
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Calendar: April 24-30
