On Halloween eve, I left my home in the Philadelphia suburbs and made my way downtown to a Title IX conference, optimistic to hear words of wisdom I could pass to the K-12 schools I advise. Trucks blaring “Get Out and Vote” messages drove past me, while campaign volunteers carrying stacks of flyers stood on the corner of Market Street, eager to appeal to voters with less than a week before the 2024 presidential election.

I filed my way into a bustling hotel, along with hundreds of others, to spend the day discussing trends and best practices to navigate the ever-changing world of Title IX. Posterboards outside overflowing meeting rooms listed available presentations to attend throughout the conference, which was hosted by the Association of Title IX Coordinators, or "ATIXA" as they’re referred to in the Title IX community. Some options included, "Queering Up the Title IX Process: Responding to Reports of Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Under the 2024 Regulations," and “Not So Random Acts of Violence: Cultural Contributors to Gender-Based Violence and How to Address Them.”