McGuireWoods Washington, D.C., partner Farnaz Thompson spoke with the EWTN network on April 30, 2021, about Title IX and a class-action suit filed in March 2021, Hunter v. U.S. Department of Education.
Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or other education program that receives federal money. Some exemptions are provided to religious colleges, and the plaintiffs in Hunter argue these exemptions allow schools to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Religious Exemption Accountability Project filed the lawsuit, alleging the exemption that allows the schools' religious-based policies is unconstitutional because the schools receive government funding.
In the EWTN interview, Thompson said religious colleges should clearly communicate their policies and make sure to apply them consistently to all students.