The Title IX Preservation Act; enact.
If enacted, SB2814 would significantly influence how Mississippi law interprets sex and gender in multiple contexts. It mandates that the state's governmental and local entities disaggregate data based on individuals' biological sex at birth when collecting gender-specific information. This data handling protocol could affect various sectors, including education, employment, and civil rights, influencing how resources and support systems are developed for different sexes.
Senate Bill 2814, known as the Title IX Preservation Act, aims to clarify terms related to Title IX of the federal code, focusing on the biological distinctions between sexes. The legislation asserts that biological differences between males and females are substantial and immutable, which it argues justifies separate social, educational, and athletic spaces to ensure safety and success for each sex. The bill emphasizes that policies distinguishing between sexes must pass a test of intermediate constitutional scrutiny, particularly in areas related to athletics and privacy concerns.
The bill faces contention primarily regarding its strict interpretation of biological sex and its implications for gender identity rights. Proponents of the bill argue that it is necessary to protect women's spaces and ensure fair treatment in athletics and other domains, pointing to perceived threats from recent court rulings. However, opponents view the legislation as regressive, emphasizing that it undermines the rights of transgender individuals and fails to acknowledge the complexities of gender identity beyond biological definitions.