Government to Publicize Schools Exempt From LGBT Discrimination Laws
Some religious schools have successfully argued in court that Title IX rules go against their religious beliefs.
The department is attempting to make the exemption process more transparent.
The Department of Education will publish a list of the schools that have received an exemption from laws prohibiting the discrimination of LGBT students.
The move comes as the department attempts to make its Title IX exemption process more transparent at the request of the Senate, according to buzzfeed.com.
In recent years, certain colleges have received an exemption from an aspect of Title IX that forbids discrimination based on a student’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The exemption has been given to religious schools receiving government aid who have argued that aspects of Title IX go against their religious beliefs.
In a Jan. 20 letter to Congress, an education department official said the office will post each college’s exemption request and the government’s response on the department’s website. The information will be easily searchable so students and parents can get a better understanding of different schools’ policies.
The Obama administration, which has overseen the expansion of Title IX by the court system, has granted exemption waivers to roughly 60 religious universities in recent years.
The scope of the waiver process led eight Senators to write an open letter to the Department of Education asking for more transparency in the process.
The Senators, along with LGBT advocacy groups, praised the department for its decision.
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