The Supreme Court said Friday it has turned down an appeal from the Biden administration and refused to lift court orders in 26 conservative states that blocked new Education Department rules extending antidiscrimination protections to transgender students.
The vote was 5 to 4.
The decision means the federal education law known as Title IX will forbid schools and colleges in half of the nation from discriminating against students based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, but not in the other half.
Last month, Solicitor Gen. Elizabeth Prelogar urged the court to allow the rules to take effect nationwide except for disputed provisions, including one requiring that schools permit transgender students to use restrooms consistent with their gender identity.
But in an unsigned order, the court denied her appeal Friday.
The justices in the majority said they saw no reason to set aside the lower court rulings…
