Texas A&M University recently made headlines after announcing the termination of its LGBTQ Studies minor, a decision that came in response to mounting pressure from Republican lawmakers. The minor, which had been part of the university’s Women’s and Gender Studies Program, included courses that explored the social constructs of gender and sexuality, with a focus on issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. It also examined how these constructs intersect with other systems of power, including racism, sexism, and classism.
The LGBTQ Studies minor was among 14 academic minors and 38 certificate programs targeted for deactivation due to low enrollment, according to university officials. The school’s policy requires that programs must graduate a minimum of five students per year to remain active, and the LGBTQ minor failed to meet that threshold. However, the political context surrounding the program’s cancellation cannot be ignored, as the move coincided with an aggressive campaign led by Texas Republicans to eliminate what they describe as “woke” academic programs.
Political Pressure Leading to the Decision
Republican State Representative Brian Harrison took credit for influencing Texas A&M’s decision, calling the LGBTQ minor “liberal indoctrination.” Harrison had been a vocal critic of the program since early 2023, accusing the university of using state resources to fund an academic agenda that, in his view, pushed a progressive ideology onto students. Harrison publicly celebrated the cancellation on social media, stating, “I’m proud to have helped deliver this victory for Texas taxpayers, who should never be forced to fund liberal indoctrination.”
The announcement followed broader legislative actions in Texas aimed at curbing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at public universities. In June 2023, Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law that banned public universities from maintaining DEI offices or programs. The law also prohibited higher education institutions from adopting policies that endorse differential treatment based on race, color, or ethnicity. Though the legislation did not explicitly target academic programs like the LGBTQ Studies minor, the political climate fostered by the law contributed to the university’s decision.
Congressman Chip Roy also weighed in on the controversy, describing the LGBTQ Studies minor as part of a larger trend of “radical woke policies” in academia. He suggested that both state and federal lawmakers should hold universities accountable for promoting what he characterized as a leftist agenda.
Broader Context of DEI Rollbacks
The termination of the LGBTQ Studies minor is part of a larger movement in Texas, and across several Republican-led states, to roll back programs that focus on diversity and inclusion. Abbott’s DEI ban has led to significant changes at other Texas universities as well. For instance, the University of Texas cut over 300 jobs and ended hundreds of DEI-related programs and contracts to comply with the new law. Texas A&M itself had previously converted its Pride Center into a Student Life Center to avoid violating the DEI ban.
In addition to these changes, Texas A&M also ended its gender-affirming care services at the Beutel Student Health Center in 2023. The services had been a lifeline for transgender students seeking medical care tailored to their needs, but the university opted to discontinue them amid heightened scrutiny from conservative lawmakers. The rollback of these services and the LGBTQ minor’s deactivation reflect the growing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ students in Texas’ higher education system.
University Response
Texas A&M University has largely framed the termination of the LGBTQ Studies minor as a routine administrative decision driven by enrollment numbers. University representatives have emphasized that the deactivation is part of a broader effort to streamline academic offerings and focus resources on programs with higher demand. The Faculty Senate is expected to formally discuss the deactivation of the LGBTQ minor and other affected programs at its next meeting in October.
However, critics argue that the timing of the decision, coupled with the political context, suggests that the university may have acted in response to external pressure rather than purely on academic grounds. Supporters of the LGBTQ Studies minor have pointed out that the program provided essential education on issues of gender and sexuality, particularly in a state where LGBTQ+ rights remain a contentious issue. The termination of the minor, they argue, represents a step backward in fostering a more inclusive and supportive academic environment for all students.
Conclusion of the Program
The LGBTQ Studies minor, once a part of the curriculum aimed at fostering diversity and inclusion, will no longer be offered at Texas A&M. This development has ignited a debate about the role of politics in shaping university curricula and the future of diversity-related academic programs in Texas. With the deactivation of the LGBTQ minor, Texas A&M joins a growing list of universities across the country that are being forced to reassess their academic offerings in response to political and legislative pressures.
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This article was first published on Pulse of Pride.
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