An injunction that blocks new Biden administration education department policies expanding LGBTQ protections in schools will remain in place in Louisiana and other states that challenged the rules after the U.S. Supreme Court kept the lower court order in place.

The Department of Education rules issued in April clarified that Title IX forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Opponents of the new federal Title IX rules believe they could supplant state laws like transgender bathroom bans and other policies increasingly being enacted in Republican-led states like Louisiana, where Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bathroom ban into law this summer.

They also believe the rules would transform traditional Title IX protections for women to compete in sports.

“I’m grateful that the Supreme Court agreed not to block our injunction against this radical rewrite of Title IX," said Republican Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who led the challenge to the new rules. "Other than the 19th Amendment guaranteeing our right to vote, Title IX has been the most successful law in history at ensuring equal opportunity for women in education at all levels and in collegiate athletics. This fight isn’t over, but I’ll keep fighting to block this radical agenda that eviscerates Title IX.”

In a 5-4 split decision issued late Fridy, the Supreme Court said the Biden administration had “not provided this Court a sufficient basis to disturb the lower courts.”

The injunction blocking the new Title IX rules was issued by Louisiana federal Judge Terry Doughty of the state's U.S. Western District Court.

Doughty, who was nominated to the court by former President Donald Trump, based his ruling on the following: the agency exceeded its authority; violation of free speech; violation of free exercise of religion; violation of the spending clause; and that the action is arbirary and capricious under the Administrative Procedures Act.

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Delivery: Varies Your Email Louisiana Education Superintendent Cade Brumley joined the lawsuit and had previously sent a letter to state school systems advising leaders to ignore the new Title IX rules.

"This is a line-in-the-sand issue," Brumley said when Murrill filed the lawsuit. "This is a bridge too far."

But LGBTQ advocates have called the lawsuit an "assault" on children.

“We should all be enraged by the relentless assault on LGBTQ+ children orchestrated by Louisiana Republicans.," said SarahJane Guidry, executive director of Forum for Equality. "Gov. Landry, Attorney General Murrill and Superintendent Brumley have a callous disregard for the well-being and dignity of these vulnerable young individuals.

"They must be reminded that these are not just policies they're attacking; they're attacking human beings – our children – who deserve love, respect, and acceptance. It's time for us to act on the harm they're causing and recognize the humanity they've carelessly neglected."