Texas Tech chancellor directs faculty to recognize only two sexes in classroom instruction

The five public universities of Texas Tech University System should “recognize that two human sexes” in their instruction in class, according to a note published Thursday by the Chancellor of the System.

In the memo, Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell cited a Texas law promulgated this month which requires that government files only reflect “immutable” sexual relations of someone as man or woman; An executive president Donald Trump signed in January by declaring that the federal government will only recognize two immutable sexes; And a letter from Governor Greg Abbott who ordered the state agencies to follow Trump’s order.

“Consequently, while recognizing the rights of the first amendment of employees in their personal quality, the teachers must comply with these laws in the instruction of the students, in the course and the scope of their employment,” wrote Mitchell. “As a system, our role is to give clarity and advice to the administration, ensuring that each university fulfills its legal obligations.”

The five system universities, which collectively have more than 60,000 students, are Texas Tech University, Angelo State University, Midwest State University, Texas Tech University Health Center and Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso. Universities did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

Mitchell ordered the faculty to review all the educational documents and adjust them accordingly.

“I recognize that members of our community can have different personal opinions on these questions,” wrote Mitchell. “Anyway, in your role of state employee, compliance with the law is required, and I trust your professionalism to assume these responsibilities in a way that thinks well of our universities.”

Although Texas law declares that “an individual is one of both sexes”, he also recognizes that people can be born with a sexual development or intersex disorder, which means having sexual characteristics that do not correspond to the binary definitions of man or woman. Texas law indicates that intersex people “are not considered belonging to a third sex” and should receive “adaptations” in accordance with state and federal law, but do not say what they are. The Chancellor’s office did not respond to a request concerning the way in which Texas Tech University System medical schools would sail on intersex under the note.

Brad Pritchett, interim CEO of Equality Texas, an LGBTQ plea organization on a state level, said in a statement that limiting students who have access to their injury.

“Freedom of expression is the backbone of American democracy,” said Pritchett. “We cannot remain accidental while the life of our trans neighbors is erased from history books. Texas is one of the most diverse states in the country, the crucible of ideas, sometimes and identities is what makes us great. Students deserve universities where teachers observe without fear and question our world – non -liberty cannot exist in the ideas of our state.

In the memo, Mitchell added that “recent developments in the universities of Texas … have stressed the importance of understanding these compliance obligations”. He seemed to refer to a controversy in Texas A&M earlier this month, in which a student registered opposing an English conference linked to gender identity. The student argued that such an instruction was “illegal” due to Trump’s executive decree recognizing only two sexes.

After the public counterpoux, the university withdrew the head of the English department and a dean of his administrative posts and dismissed the professor, Melissa McCoul.

When he was asked for comments, McCoul directed NBC News to his lawyer, who said that McCoul had appealed his dismissal and explored additional legal action.

The president of Texas A&M, Mark A. Welsh III, resigned a few days later, but did not say if the controversy was a factor.

“When I was appointed President of the Texas A&M University, I said that Chancellor John Sharp and our board of directors of Regents as I would be as good as I could until it was time for someone else to take over,” said Welsh in a statement published earlier this month. “In the past few days, it has become clear that this is now this time.”