Texas Tech Limits Gender Identity Research

Why this is here: Texas Tech will bar graduate students from writing theses or dissertations on sexual orientation and gender identity, a restriction not yet implemented at other major public universities.

Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, announced it will phase out academic credentials focused on sexual orientation or gender identity starting June 2026. The university, under the leadership of Brandon Creighton, detailed the changes in a memo requiring instructors to use “alternate materials” when addressing these topics. This policy extends beyond previous restrictions at other universities like those in Florida, now also barring graduate-level theses and dissertations on these subjects.

Faculty may continue existing research, but new hires must “align” with the policy. Students can still write term papers, but advanced research is limited. The policy stems from a 2025 Texas law defining only two human sexes, echoing similar language from a Trump administration executive order.

Legal scholars doubt the policy’s constitutionality given First Amendment protections, though its impact on academic inquiry remains a concern. A recent survey shows over 60% of Texas professors would not encourage colleagues to work in the state, indicating a broader trend of faculty seeking opportunities elsewhere. The work of defining the boundaries of academic freedom continues.