In a bold move to uphold traditional values, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated legal proceedings against the Biden administration's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, challenges an April policy revision deemed "unlawful" by Paxton, which redefined discrimination to encompass "gender identity."
The contentious policy rewrite involved an update to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This amendment compelled both state and private employers to accommodate transgender employees, leading to the allowance of men in women's spaces, the enforcement of "preferred pronouns," and the abolition of sex-specific dress codes. Paxton, in alliance with the Heritage Foundation, is contesting the rewrite, asserting that it infringes upon the Administrative Procedure Act and lacks adequate standing. The original text prohibits sex-based discrimination but does not stipulate special accommodations for the sexes, as per the lawsuit.
According to the Daily Caller, Paxton expressed his concerns in a press release, stating, "The Biden-Harris Administration is attempting yet again to rewrite federal law through undemocratic and illegal agency action. This time, they are unlawfully weaponizing the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in an attempt to force private businesses and States to implement 'transgender' mandatesand Texas is suing to stop them."
The lawsuit further contends that the EEOC "has limited rulemaking authority" and should not have been permitted to alter the policy. The plaintiffs are seeking a complete blockage of the rule.
Dan Mauler, general counsel for the Heritage Foundation, echoed Paxton's sentiments, stating, "Heritage is proud to join the great state of Texas as co-plaintiff to fight another blatant abuse of federal power by the Biden/Harris Administrationthe EEOCs new harassment guidance. The EEOC has exceeded the limits Congress placed on their authority, violated the First Amendment, and placed women at risk with their new guidance. We are proud to be defending small businesses and American families from this illegal overreach."
The Biden administration has been embroiled in numerous lawsuits since April over a similar policy rewrite that broadened Title IX to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity." This rule has been subsequently blocked in several states.
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