PFLAG National on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ Planned Revision of Title IX Guidance on Sexual Assault on Campuses

“…will leave universities with less clarity, and make LGBTQ students, students of color, students with disabilities, all students, more vulnerable.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, PFLAG National—the nation’s largest and oldest organization uniting families and allies with people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ)—released the following statement from Charles R. Middleton, member of the Board of Directors:

“As someone who spent half a century in higher education and as a retired university president and former dean, I understand first hand the very real issue of sexual violence on campuses. Yesterday’s announcement by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos that she and the administration will revise the guidance on campus sexual assault will leave universities with less clarity, and make LGBTQ students, students of color, students with disabilities, all students, more vulnerable. Students must be able to report sexual violence secure in the knowledge that their schools will protect them and take their reports seriously. The current guidance does just that; to remove it is unnecessary and cruel. PFLAG’s values–my values–are America’s values and that means we afford protection and dignity, and extend trust and an open ear when someone says their personal rights have been violated. We call on Betsy DeVos and the administration to leave this important guidance in place.”

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PFLAG is the nation’s largest organization uniting families, allies, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ). PFLAG is committed to advancing equality through its mission of support, education, and advocacy, and has nearly 400 chapters and 200,000 supporters crossing multiple generations of American families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. To learn more, visit pflag.org, like us on Facebook (/pflag), or follow us on Twitter (@pflag) or Instagram.