Washington — The American Psychological Association welcomed changes to regulations from the Department of Education directing how institutions of higher education implement Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, noting that they will help safeguard LGBTQ+ students by expanding for the first time the definition of sexual harassment to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
“With a record number of states recently enacting or proposing laws targeting LGBTQ+ youth, data show that such polices are harmful to the health, safety and psychological well-being of these students, who are more likely than their peers to face discrimination in school,” said APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD. “Such discrimination places them at higher risk for mental health conditions such as depression and suicidal thinking. These federal protections are welcome, given the political climate in many states.”
The new rule will help limit under-reporting of sexual misconduct in educational settings and provide support and services to survivors of sexual misconduct. It will also provide more flexibility for resolving complaints and offer a stronger framework for student support and recovery.
“These changes align with Title IX’s original purpose and reflect the most recent psychological research into the impacts of discrimination and sexual harassment,” Evans said.