Transgender and nonbinary students in Texas say intolerance is rising as the state intensifies restrictions on gender-related instruction. Several students told The Texas Tribune they’ve experienced escalating harassment and alienation on campuses once seen as inclusive. Beth, a transgender student at Texas Tech University, shared, “I know I could be a lot better off if I lived somewhere I wasn’t considered a monster.”
For years, Texas Tech served as a haven for LGBTQ+ students, hosting events like Lubbock Pride and the Big 12 LGBTQIA Allies Summit. But those programs have faded, voicing the signs of a shifting climate. At the University of Texas at Austin, nonbinary and transgender student Liz Graff described being physically bumped and socially isolated. Other students echoed similar experiences, describing campuses that have become “increasingly more hostile” over the past two years.
That period aligns with a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and policies—prompting Campus Pride in 2023 to stop recommending Texas schools to queer students. Governor Greg Abbott’s order to close LGBTQ+ resource centers marked a turning point. Since then, crackdowns have continued, including the recent firing of a Texas A&M professor for discussing gender identity in class.
