NEW YORK, N.Y. (WENY) -- New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Tuesday, May 16th that she is co-leading a coalition of 12 attorneys general supporting protections for transgender athletes. The coalition submitted comments in response to a rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Education that would clarify how schools receiving federal funding can remain in compliance with Title IX when determining a transgender student’s eligibility to participate on school athletic teams.

“Activist state legislatures across our nation are passing hateful bans that discriminate against transgender students, and these attacks on their most basic rights will not be tolerated,” said James in a prepared statement. 

In a letter sent to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Attorney General James and her colleagues expressed support for rules that would prohibit institutions that receive federal funding from excluding transgender students from school sports. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs or activities. 

“When we prioritize policies that uplift equity and inclusion, everybody wins. Transgender students deserve to enjoy and participate in the same opportunities as their peers, and I will always fight to defend every individual’s right to live a full life as their authentic self,” said James in a prepared statement. 

Joining James are the attorneys general of New Jersey, California, Hawai'i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington