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Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks , Transgender Protections in 20 States.CNN reports that late on July 15, Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. ruled that 20 states don't have to enforce federal guidance intended to protect transgender students and employees.CNN reports that late on July 15, Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. ruled that 20 states don't have to enforce federal guidance intended to protect transgender students and employees.Last year, the Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the guidance stating that transgender people are covered under Title IX and Title VII.Those titles prohibit sex discrimination at schools and employment discrimination based on sex, nationality, religion, color and race, respectively.Those titles prohibit sex discrimination at schools and employment discrimination based on sex, nationality, religion, color and race, respectively.20 GOP-led states sued over the guidance, claiming an unlawful overreach of executive power, which the judge agreed with.Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III commended the judge's ruling.[Judge Atchley] rightly recognized the federal government put Tennessee and other states in an impossible situation: choose between the threat of legal consequences, including the withholding of federal funding, or altering our state laws to comply, Herbert H. Slatery III, Tennessee Attorney General, via statement.We are thankful the court put a stop to it, maintained the status quo as the lawsuit proceeds, and reminded the federal government it cannot direct its agencies to rewrite the law, Herbert H. Slatery III, Tennessee Attorney General, via statement.LGBTQ advocates called the ruling "yet another example of far-right judges legislating from the bench.".Nothing in this decision can stop schools from treating students consistent with their gender identity. And nothing in this decision eliminates schools' obligations under Title IX or students' or parents' abilities to bring lawsuits in federal court, Joni Madison, the Human Rights Campaign's interim president, via statement.HRC will continue to fight these anti-transgender rulings with every tool in our toolbox, Joni Madison, the Human Rights Campaign's interim president, via statement