Idaho Board of Education bans DEI offices and initiatives in all public universities [Video]

The Idaho Board of Education approved efforts to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public universities on Wednesday. 

After months of debating, the board unanimously agreed on a resolution that Idaho institutions cannot “require specific structures or activities related to DEI.”

In summary, institutions “shall establish and maintain equality of opportunity for all students regardless of personal identity characteristics,” “ensure that no central offices, policies, procedures, or initiatives are dedicated to DEI ideology” and “ensure that no employee or student is required to declare gender identity or preferred pronouns.”

The board defined DEI ideology as “any approach that prioritizes ‘personal identity characteristics’ (race, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, or gender identity) over individual merit.”

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In addition to banning mandatory gender identification, the board also prohibited diversity statements in hiring practices or any decisions regarding employment or education based on “personal identity characteristics.” 

The board also approved a resolution that mandated protections for free speech and expression on …