Texas Tech University issued a memo in early April 2026 banning academic programs, instruction and student research on sexual orientation and gender identity, and mandating faculty recognize only two human sexes. The directive forbids teaching that gender identity is a fluid spectrum. Some faculty have left or protested the policy.
Texas Tech University Systemissued memo restricting instruction on gender and sexual orientation
Texas Tech Universityadopted restrictions on teaching about race, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation
One associate professor of history (former faculty member)quit Texas Tech citing inability to teach under new restrictions
The facts
Texas Tech University System issued a memo in early April 2026 restricting academic programs, instruction and student research on sexual orientation and gender identity.1
The memo mandates faculty recognize only two human sexes and forbids teaching that gender identity is a fluid spectrum.1
Texas Tech has adopted restrictions on how professors teach about race, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation.2
An associate professor of history at Texas Tech quit before the 2026 school year due to the new restrictions.1
Texas Tech professors held a protest at the university library discussing new university policies on faculty instruction.2
Senate Bill 17, a 2023 law, banned diversity, equity and inclusion offices at public universities while exempting classroom instruction.2
Texas has 45 public universities navigating higher education policy changes.2
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Former associate professor of history at Texas Tech New restrictions make it impossible to teach how medieval people saw the world and violate academic freedom.1
Texas Tech professors New rules could make familiar literary texts run afoul of the university policies.2
Texas Tech professors Policies have created uncertainty about how they can teach topics including race, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation.2
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
I Left Texas Tech Because Its New Gender Restrictions Made It Impossible to Teach History
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones asked the City Council to revise the city's state legislative agenda following Democrats' election victories. She wants to push for Medicaid expansion and repeal of House Bill 2127, Senate Bill 4, and a law barring cities from prohibiting landlords from denying renters who use federal housing assistance.
Gina Ortiz Jones, Mayor of San Antonio; City Council, City Council members considering revised legislative agenda
The Federation of American Scientists examined data center development agreements in 2026, finding many negotiations conducted behind closed doors with non-disclosure agreements limiting public input. Meanwhile, investment analysts expressed concern that Democratic electoral victories in Texas and other states could lead to stricter AI regulations and data center delays.
$Sources note data centers may receive tax breaks that could outweigh financial benefits to communities, and mention new tax revenue as a potential benefit communities consider, but provide no specific tax effect statement.
Federation of American Scientists, organization researching data center agreements and transparency; The Motley Fool, investment analysis firm assessing regulatory impacts
Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa's transition team launched a website and online resume portal this weekend to accept applications from Texans interested in serving in the incoming administration. The portal invites submissions of resumes, cover letters, and personal information for rolling review.
Gina Hinojosa, Governor-elect; Ernest Bailes, Transition co-chair; Ryan Pollock, Transition co-chair and 2 more
CoreWeave, an AI cloud infrastructure company, sent a letter to Texas governor-elect Gina Hinojosa asking to work with her transition team on completing already-permitted data center projects and establishing standards for future development.
$4.2 gigawatts for contracted power capacity
Michael Intrator, CoreWeave co-founder and Chief Executive Officer; Gina Hinojosa, Texas governor-elect; CoreWeave, AI cloud infrastructure company
Texas governor-elect Gina Hinojosa said data centers already approved can complete construction, while new approvals would face conditions on taxes, electricity rates, water access, and labor. She said existing approvals cover most state data-center projects for 2027 and into 2028.
Gina Hinojosa, Governor-elect; Greg Abbott, Outgoing governor; Elon Musk, Business operator mentioned for SpaceX
Democrats won statewide offices and a majority in the Texas House in the Nov. 5, 2026 election. Local government officials said this changes their relationship with state government from adversarial to potentially collaborative on housing, transportation, and economic development.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, local official commenting on election outcome; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Republican mayor commenting on state partnership; Travis County Judge Andy Brown, local official discussing state partnership potential
Texas' Catholic bishops congratulated Democratic winners of the statewide elections and prayed for their wisdom while reaffirming their unchanged legislative priorities centered on Catholic social teaching.
Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, issued Nov. 5 message congratulating election winners; Nathan Johnson, attorney general-elect, Democrat; Ken Paxton, outgoing Republican Attorney General and 2 more
Texas Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa announced Thursday that she asked state officials to halt action on the potential transfer of approximately 1,300 acres of public land near SpaceX's Starbase in Cameron County during her transition to office.
Gina Hinojosa, Texas governor-elect; Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, State agency involved in land disposition; SpaceX, Prospective buyer of state land