Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit Tuesday, July 26 against the Biden administration, joining Ohio with 21 other states to protest guidance that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
On May 5, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced that they would be interpreting the prohibition on discrimination found in Title IX to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Officials explained that the guidance would promote nutrition security, particularly in the LGBTQ+ community who, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, is experiencing food insecurity at a 6% higher rate compared to non-LGBTQ+ populations.
“USDA is committed to administering all its programs with equity and fairness, and serving those in need with the highest dignity. A key step in advancing these principles is rooting out discrimination in any form – including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “At the same time, we must recognize the vulnerability of the LGBTQI+ communities and provide them with an avenue to grieve any discrimination they face. We hope that by standing firm against these inequities we will help bring about much-needed change.”
The guidance would require that state and local agencies, program operators and sponsors that receive funds must investigate allegations of discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. Those organizations must also update their non-discrimination policies and signage to include prohibitions against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
For Yost and 21 other attorneys general, the prohibition on LGBTQ+ discrimination would compel institutions that receive funding—like schools—to “adopt unworkable policies.”
In a press release, Yost said the ban on discrimination could result in federal dollars being withheld to “to feed needy children if schools don’t adopt the administration’s preferred policies regarding gender identity, potentially including those involving access to girls’ bathrooms and girls’ athletics.”
“This is classic federal policy – literally converting carrots into sticks and using them to beat a political agenda into local schools,” Yost said.
Joining Yost in the lawsuit, which is being led by Tennessee and Indiana, are the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.
This story was originally posted by The Buckeye Flame and is reposted here with permission.
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