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Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

No.

The Biden administration’s April 19, 2024, changes to Title IX do not address participation of transgender people in sports.

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools receiving federal funding.

The Education Department’s new rules protect students and employees from sex-based harassment and discrimination.

The rules say future changes will address sex-separate athletic teams.

Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who represents northern Wisconsin, claimed on social media the changes allow “biological men” to play women’s sports. His office did not reply to requests for information.

Tiffany’s post alluded to a Washington Examiner news story. It reported that the new rules pertain only to sexual harassment and discrimination and that transgender participation in sports would likely be taken up later.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the administration considered but opted not to include in the April 19 changes a policy forbidding schools from banning transgender athletes.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education: Title IX and Sex Discrimination

Education Department: News release

U.S. Department of Education: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance

Google Docs: Tom Tiffany X post 4/22/24

Washington Examiner: Biden administration finalizes controversial Title IX rule to ‘redefine’ sex

Los Angeles Times: New Title IX rules protect LGBTQ+ students, but transgender athletes aren’t addressed

Washington Post: Biden Title IX rules set to protect trans students, survivors of abuse

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Tom Kertscher joined as a Wisconsin Watch fact checker in January 2023 and contributes to our collaboration with the The Gigafact Project to fight misinformation online. Kertscher is a former longtime newspaper reporter, including at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who has worked as a self-employed journalist since 2019. His gigs include contributing writer for Milwaukee Magazine and sports freelancer for The Associated Press.