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A28 u.s. news
Diabierna 24 Juni 2022

LGBTQ students would get new protections under Biden plan

silence survivors.” range of misconduct. Schools would
In announcing its proposal, Biden’s be required to address any allegation
Education Department said DeVos’ that creates a “hostile environment”
rules “weakened protections for sur- for students, even if the misconduct
vivors of sexual assault and dimin- arises off campus. Most college em-
ished the promise of an education ployees, including professors and
free from discrimination.” coaches, would be required to notify
campus officials if they learn of po-
For the first time, the rules would tential sex discrimination.
formally protect LGBTQ students
under Title IX. Nothing in the 1972 In a victory for victims rights advo-
law explicitly addresses the topic, cates, the proposal would eliminate
but the new proposal would clarify a rule requiring colleges to hold live
that the law applies to discrimination hearings to investigate sexual mis-
based on sexual orientation and gen- conduct cases — one of the most di-
der identity. visive aspects of DeVos’ policy. Live
hearings would be allowed under the
It would make clear that “preventing new policy, but colleges could also
someone from participating in school appoint campus officials to question
programs and activities consistent students separately.
with their gender identity would
(AP) - The rights of LGBTQ stu- cause harm in violation of Title IX,” Biden’s action drew praise from vic-
dents would become enshrined in The proposal is almost certain to be according to the department. More tims rights groups, LGBTQ advo-
federal law and victims of cam- challenged by conservatives, and it is specific rules dealing with the rights cates and Democratic lawmakers.
pus sexual assault would gain new expected to lead to new legal battles of transgender students in school
protections under new rules pro- over the rights of transgender stu- sports will be released later, the de- “These proposed regulations demon-
posed by the Biden administra- dents in schools, especially in sports. partment said. strate a strong commitment to pro-
tion on Thursday. It now faces a public feedback period tecting educational opportunities for
before the administration can final- Biden marked the anniversary of Title all students including LGBTQ stu-
The proposal, announced on the 50th ize any changes, meaning the earliest IX by acknowledging the impact the dents,” said Janson Wu executive di-
anniversary of the Title IX women’s that the policy is likely to take effect law has had in advancing equity but rector of Gay and Lesbian Advocates
rights law, is intended to replace a set is next year. acknowledging there was more to do. and Defenders. “Especially in light of
of controversial rules issued during ongoing state legislative attacks, we
the Trump administration by Educa- The step meets a demand from vic- “As we look to the next 50 years, I am are grateful for the administration’s
tion Secretary Betsy DeVos. tims rights advocates who wanted committed to protecting this progress strong support of LGBTQ youth.”
Biden to release new rules no later and working to achieve full equality,
President Joe Biden’s education sec- than the anniversary of Title IX, inclusion, and dignity for women and Republicans in Congress were quick
retary, Miguel Cardona, said that which outlaws discrimination based girls, LGBTQI+ Americans, all stu- to denounce the proposal. Rep. Vir-
even though there have been signifi- on sex in schools and colleges. Advo- dents, and all Americans,” he said in ginia Foxx of North Carolina, the top
cant strides toward gender equality, cates say DeVos’ rules have gone too a statement. Republican on the House Education
discrimination and sexual violence far in protecting students accused of and Labor Committee, said the rules
persist. sexual misconduct, at the expense of Many of the proposed changes would will “demolish due process rights and
victims. restore Obama-era rules that DeVos’ the safety of young women and girls
“Even as we celebrate all the progress policy replaced. across the country, with promised
we’ve achieved, standing up for equal As a presidential candidate, Biden regulations still to come to under-
access and inclusion is as important as had promised a quick end to DeVos’ The definition of sexual harassment mine women’s access to athletic op-
ever before,” he said. rules, saying they would “shame and would be expanded to cover a wider portunities.”

Michigan to destroy some blood spots in fight over consent

(AP) — The state of Michigan be kept for decades. lection of signing anything. My wife the research bank but doesn’t recall
has agreed to destroy more than had a C-section. She was still grog- receiving an informational brochure
3 million dried blood spots taken Texas in 2009 agreed to destroy mil- gy 12 hours later from all the drugs at the hospital.
from babies and kept in storage, a lions of spots to settle a lawsuit over pumped into her from giving birth.”
partial settlement in an ongoing privacy. “I don’t like not knowing where
lawsuit over consent and privacy Ashley Kanuszewski acknowledged or what they’re using it for,” said
in the digital age. Since 2010, Michigan must have per- that she signed forms allowing blood Kanuszewski, one of four parents
mission from parents to use spots for spots from two babies to be added to who sued in 2018.
At the state’s direction, hospitals have research. But attorney Philip Ellison
routinely pricked the heels of new- argues that the program still violates
borns to draw blood to check for constitutional protections against
more than 50 rare diseases. That prac- searches and seizures and might not
tice, which is widespread across the be fully understood by parents who
U.S., isn’t being challenged. Rather, are presented with forms amid the
the dispute is over leftover samples. fog of childbirth.

A blood spot from each child is stored Ellison claims the consent form and
in Lansing while five more are sent a related brochure are vague, making
to the Michigan Neonatal Biobank no reference, for example, to the state
in Detroit for safekeeping under cli- collecting fees for blood spots used by
mate-controlled conditions. scientists.

Scientists can pay a fee to use the “If moms and dads say, ‘Use them. I
Detroit-stored samples for vari- don’t care’ — that’s their business,”
ous research projects. Research with he told The Associated Press. “But
newborn blood spots occurs in other the state is not giving them enough
states, too, especially California, New information to make an informed de-
York and Minnesota where they can cision. ... Most people have no recol-