Aug 1 (Reuters) – A new federal rule protecting LGBT students from discrimination in schools and colleges based on gender identity that took effect on Thursday remained blocked in 26 states after the U.S. Supreme Court did not act on requests by President Joe Biden’s administration to widen its enforcement. The justices have yet to act on the administration’s requests to partially lift lower court injunctions blocking the rule in 10 Republican-led states that had challenged it, while litigation continues.