Texas Tech University has implemented a far-reaching policy that effectively censors discussions and academic pursuits related to LGBTQ+ issues across its five-campus system. This directive is being described as a campus equivalent of “Don’t Say Gay.”

Sweeping Restrictions on Academic Programs

The policy impacts approximately 64,000 students across Texas Tech University, Angelo State University, Midwestern State University, and two Health Sciences Centers. It mandates the elimination of all academic programs – majors, minors, certificates, and graduate degrees – that are “centered on” sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI).

Provosts are tasked with identifying and reporting these programs by June 15, 2026, after which admissions will be immediately frozen. Currently enrolled students will be allowed to complete their degrees, but the fields of study will be phased out entirely upon their graduation.

Control of Course Content and Materials

An “Alternate Materials Rule” requires instructors to avoid materials “centered on or include” SOGI topics, mandating the use of alternative resources. Instructors are instructed to skip relevant content even in industry-standard textbooks and refrain from any discussion of it.

Restrictions Extend to Core Courses

The directive discourages even “incidental references” to LGBTQ+ topics in core courses. This potentially prohibits the discussion of historical events like the Stonewall riots or the AIDS crisis, literary works by authors like Oscar Wilde or Virginia Woolf, and the analysis of gender performance in Shakespeare’s plays.

Restrictions are absolute for core and lower-level courses, with no exceptions permitted. The policy dictates that instructors “must not highlight, assess, or allocate instructional time to” LGBTQ+ content, even in seemingly innocuous examples like music appreciation courses.

Reinforcing a Binary View of Gender

The policy introduces a “Two Human Sexes Requirement,” reinforcing a rigid and scientifically inaccurate binary view of gender. This requirement aligns with the TTU System’s interpretation of state and federal laws, which only recognize male and female as valid sexes.

Concerns and Potential Legal Challenges

The implementation of this policy raises serious concerns about academic freedom, intellectual inquiry, and the university’s commitment to inclusivity. Critics argue it creates a hostile learning environment and undermines higher education principles.

A similar policy was previously blocked by a federal judge as unconstitutional, raising questions about the legal defensibility of this new directive. The long-term consequences could include driving LGBTQ+ students and scholars away from Texas Tech.