Murray, Senate Honor 44th Anniversary of Title IX, Landmark Civil Rights Law Prohibiting Discrimination

Press Release

Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, was joined by 37 Senators in introducing a resolution to honor the 44th Anniversary of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). Congress enacted Title IX to address widespread discrimination against women and girls in all aspects of their education. Title IX is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in the administration of any education program that receives federal funding and promotes equity in schools.

Critically, Title IX also encompasses protections against gender-based violence, sexual harassment and assault, dating violence, stalking, and domestic violence and guarantees equal educational opportunities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT), pregnant or parenting, and gender non-conforming students. In the Senate resolution, Murray and her colleagues applaud the tremendous increases in educational and athletic opportunities for women and girls since the passage of Title IX, recognize there is more that needs to be done to promote equity for all students, and encourage efforts by the Departments of Education and Justice to ensure states and schools work together to prevent and respond to all cases of discrimination and violence, including against students based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender non-conformity.

"Title IX truly changed our country for the better--and the number of women, girls, and LGBT Americans whose lives it touches continues to grow every single day," said Senator Murray. "Women and girls now have opportunities that were once denied to their mothers and grandmothers. I've seen this first-hand, in my own family. The challenge for us today is to make sure the doors of opportunity stay open and that we work to expand equity and protections under Title IX--because despite the progress that has been made, too many students are too often denied equal educational opportunities because of who they are or who they love. We need to work just as hard today to ensure all students have access to a safe learning environment and the chance to learn, grow, and thrive in the classroom and on the field."

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