Overview

• Parents Defending Education filed a civil rights complaint on June 20 with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, alleging Smith College’s admissions and facilities policies breach Title IX.
• Smith’s 2015 policy update permits applicants to self-identify as women without verifying biological sex, prompting claims that it diverts slots from cisgender female applicants.
• The complaint challenges the college’s designation of all-gender restrooms, locker rooms and single-occupancy facilities as compromising privacy and safety for female students.
• It cites President Trump’s executive orders and Education Department guidance affirming that Title IX protections are based on biological sex rather than gender identity.
• The Office for Civil Rights is set to investigate, a process that could influence Title IX enforcement at other single-sex institutions.