University of Alabama System Strips LGBTQ+ Protections from Nondiscrimination Policy

Earlier versions of the policy, still archived by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, listed those categories. The alteration was first identified through archived webpages for the system and its Birmingham and Huntsville campuses.

The Advocate

University officials said the revision was intended to align the system’s rules with current federal interpretations of Title VII and Title IX, which the Trump-era Justice Department has applied narrowly, especially in cases involving transgender students’ participation in sports. The Supreme Court’s recent decision upholding a straight woman’s Title VII claim—rejecting heightened scrutiny for majority-group plaintiffs—was cited as part of the legal backdrop influencing the change.

The Advocate

A university spokesperson, Alex House, emphasized that enforcement of the nondiscrimination rules has not changed and described the wording update as an “administrative change.” House also affirmed that the university will continue to foster a welcoming environment free from discrimination for all campus members.

The Advocate

While the University of Alabama system removed the explicit protections, other Alabama public institutions—including Auburn University, Samford University, the University of South Alabama, and the University of West Alabama—continue to list sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories, according to Yellowhammer News. The policy shift highlights divergent approaches among state schools and raises concerns about the consistency of LGBTQ-inclusive protections across Alabama’s higher-education landscape.

The Advocate