In a swift reaction to political pressure, Texas A&M University has removed both the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the head of the English department from their administrative roles following a classroom incident involving gender identity content. This occurred after a video surfaced capturing a tense exchange in a children’s literature course about whether there are more than two genders.
The video, shared by Republican state Representative Brian Harrison, shows a student challenging the professor, Melissa McCoul, voice-recording the exchange and accusing the lesson of teaching “gender ideology,” which the student claimed conflicts with religious beliefs and Trump-era policies. The professor defended her teaching as academically appropriate and aligned with the curriculum’s subject matter.
University President Mark A. Welsh III cited a mismatch between classroom topics and officially approved course descriptions as the rationale behind personnel changes, emphasizing that this action reflects “academic responsibility” and not censorship. Chancellor Glenn Hegar extended the response across the entire Texas A&M University System, ordering a system-wide audit of all courses to ensure compliance.
The move has sparked national conversation about academic freedom. While PEN America criticized the university’s action as undermining intellectual autonomy, Governor Greg Abbott and Rep. Harrison praised the response as upholding legal and ideological standards. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice reportedly intends to investigate whether the incident violates civil rights protections.
Broader Ripple in Texas: UT Austin to Cease On Campus Hormone Therapy
Simultaneously, at the University of Texas at Austin, another policy change is poised to impact trans students. UT has announced that its University Health Services clinic will stop providing gender-affirming hormone therapy starting January 1, 2026, with a fall transition period to help students secure external care options. The decision arrives amid a shrinking landscape of institutional gender-affirming care across the state, drawing concern from trans Texans about access and safety.
Why It Matters for Trans Texans
Both developments underline a troubling trend in Texas public universities: educators and trans students increasingly face institutional rollbacks or limitations. At A&M, the removal of leaders over classroom discussion signals a narrowing tolerance for nuanced gender identity topics. At UT Austin, the loss of vital healthcare services further isolates trans students who rely on on-campus support networks.
This political climate unfolds against the backdrop of state-level legislation like HB 229, which codifies sex as biologically defined and erases gender identity from state nondiscrimination protections. In light of such legal and institutional shifts, transgender Texans confront mounting barriers, whether in the classroom or in healthcare corridors.
Yet amid adversity, resilience and advocacy persist. Activists and legal defenders continue to fight for inclusive education and access to care, pushing back against policies that threaten the health, dignity, and academic freedom of trans Texans.
