On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Education revealed a proposed amendment to Title IX that would forbid gender-based discrimination in public schools.

The proposed modification would prevent schools from implementing broad prohibitions against transgender athletes and would enable them to participate in sports teams that correspond with their gender identity, rather than their biological sex.

Nonetheless, the department stated that the suggested adjustments would still provide schools with some discretion to exclude transgender athletes based on their age and the sport in question.

“Every student should be able to have the full experience of attending school in America, including participating in athletics, free from discrimination,” stated U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “Being on a sports team is an important part of the school experience for students of all ages.”

According to the ACLU, in the previous three years, no less than 19 states have passed laws that prohibit transgender athletes from competing on sports teams that do not align with their biological sex.

The declaration was made on Thursday, which coincided with West Virginia’s battle over a law that prohibits transgender pupils from participating in female sports teams. Additionally, it came just a day after the Kansas legislature overrode the governor’s veto and enacted a similar restriction.

Numerous LGBTQ+ organizations reacted to the announcement and commended the suggested modifications.

“This proposed rule makes it clear that the 20 state laws categorically prohibiting transgender young people from participating in school sports violate federal law,” said Kasey Suffredini, Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs at The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ youth.

“Nobody should be denied the opportunity to be part of a team just because of who they are,” he added.

“State lawmakers take note — discriminating against transgender athletes is wrong and a violation of federal law,” said Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization.

“This moment we’re in is truly a crisis for transgender young people — and we’re calling on elected leaders at every level of government to fight harder for our kids.”