This article has been updated since publication.
Texas A&M could face a federal investigation following revelations that a course instructor removed a student from class over objections to a discussion about exposing children to transgenderism.
At issue is a video, obtained by State Rep. Brian Harrison (R–Midlothian), that shows a discussion about transgender topics in a children’s literature class.
During the video, the professor in question attempted to teach about a so-called “Gender Unicorn.” This “Gender Unicorn” further introduced topics such as “Gender Identity,” “Gender Expression,” and “Sex assigned at birth.”
The subject was introduced as part of a discussion for how to present these concepts to children between the ages of three and twelve. The student said she objected to the topic in class because of her religious beliefs and an executive order from President Donald Trump.
Harrison highlighted a number of other concerning items from this course, such as the need to include children in “discussions of queerness,” claiming “Childhood is the time for figuring out how to be a boy, girl, man, woman, or another gender.” The teacher also discussed “queer melancholia theory.”
Harrison included an undercover audio recording of a conversation between the student in question and TAMU President Mark Welsh, with Welsh defending the inclusion of LGBTQ studies at Texas A&M for students who might want to become “psychiatrists” or “school superintendents.”
“There is a professional reason to teach some of these courses,” Welsh is heard stating in the recording.
Harrison has referred Texas A&M to the U.S. Department of Education “to respectfully request that you or other agencies take any appropriate action(s) to ensure that Texas universities receiving federal funds are complying with President Trump’s Executive Orders” on DEI policies and transgenderism.
“This is deeply concerning. The @CivilRights will look into this,” Harmeet Dhillon, the U.S. assistant attorney general for civil rights, replied on social media.
Harrison also wrote a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott where he called for the governor to direct the Texas A&M Board of Regents to fire both Welsh and the professor in question.
The Texas A&M University System is overseen by a Board of Regents that is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate.
TAMUS Chancellor Glenn Hegar released a statement late Monday saying it is “unacceptable” for faculty to push a personal political agenda. He added that issues with the course professor have been recurring.
Hegar said he will “work with the Board of Regents to make certain that the A&M System takes the necessary disciplinary action to ensure this does not happen again at one of our campuses.”
Harrison called Hegar’s statement “a nice first draft” but added that the professor, department head, and TAMU President Welsh should be fired. Harrison also said that all LBGT and DEI instruction must be terminated.
At 10:15 PM that same day, Texas A&M shared a statement from Welsh.
“I learned this afternoon that key leaders in the College of Arts and Sciences approved plans to continue teaching course content that was not consistent with the course’s published description,” the statement read. “As a result, I directed the provost to remove the dean and department head from their administrative positions, effective immediately.”
Texas A&M and Gov. Abbott did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s request for comment before publication.
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