Texas bans gender and intersex education—leaving professors afraid to teach science
A professor at the University of Texas at Austin was dismissed in early 2023 after a student complained about a lesson on gender and sexuality. The incident involved a discussion of a story featuring a nonbinary child in a children's literature class. Since then, Texas has passed a law restricting similar topics in public universities.
An intersex scholar-activist from the University of New Mexico has now spoken out about the broader impact of such policies. They describe growing fears over teaching biological facts in an increasingly politicised environment. The dismissal of Professor John Smith followed a complaint from a Texas A&M student. The student objected to the inclusion of 'gender ideology' in a required course, ENGL 360: Literature for Children. The material under scrutiny was a story about a 12-year-old nonbinary character. University officials claimed the professor had strayed from the course description.
In June 2023, Texas passed Senate Bill 17, which bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes at public universities. The law also prohibits mandatory teachings on gender identity, sexual orientation, and intersex topics. Governor Greg Abbott signed it, with enforcement beginning in January 2024 under the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The intersex scholar-activist, whose forthcoming memoir Five Star White Trash: A Memoir of Fraud and Family details their experiences, was born with XY chromosomes but no ovaries, uterus, or fallopian tubes. Their body includes a vagina and undescended testes. Despite this biological reality, they now fear discussing such facts openly in classrooms due to political backlash.
The scholar has called on administrators, policymakers, and communities to defend academic freedom. They stress that intersex people are a biological reality—not an ideology—and warn that silencing these discussions harms education and marginalised groups. The firing of Professor Smith and the passage of Senate Bill 17 have set new limits on what can be taught in Texas universities. The intersex scholar's account highlights the tension between biological facts and political restrictions. With enforcement now underway, educators face growing uncertainty over how to address gender and intersex topics without risking their careers.
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