Austin News

Governor Greg Abbott has issued a directive to Texas state agency heads, urging adherence to state and federal laws regarding gender ideologies. The directive includes compliance with an executive order from President Donald Trump, which addresses issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The letter from Governor Abbott states, "The State of Texas recognizes only two sexes—male and female—and sex discrimination consists in treating a member of one sex less favorably than the other, absent some pertinent difference." It further criticizes efforts that aim to alter the guarantee of equal treatment for men and women by imposing mandates related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

President Trump's Executive Order, titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," was issued on January 20, 2025. This order rejects similar initiatives by the Biden-Harris Administration concerning biological sex concepts. Governor Abbott emphasizes his role as Chief Executive Officer of Texas in ensuring that all state agencies align their policies with this perspective.

Under Governor Abbott's administration, Texas has opposed actions by former President Joe Biden regarding Title IX changes. This includes condemning what he terms an illegal rewrite of Title IX and instructing the Texas Education Agency to disregard new rules introduced by the Biden Administration. Additionally, public university systems and community colleges in Texas have been directed not to implement any system-wide policies based on these federal changes.