Federal Title IX Inquiry Targets Smith College’s Trans Women Admissions
The U.S. Department of Education has opened a Title IX investigation into Smith College, an all-women’s college in western Massachusetts, over its policy of admitting transgender women and granting them access to women-only spaces. The probe, prompted by a civil rights complaint from Defending Education, asks whether Smith’s policy complies with Title IX’s single-sex exception (grounded in biological sex). Smith says it remains committed to civil rights laws and will not comment on pending investigations. Advocates for LGBTQ rights say inclusion aligns with the mission of women’s colleges, while critics view the move as government overreach. Smith has updated admissions to include trans students since 2015 and provides trans-affirming healthcare and gender-inclusive facilities on campus.