Most Republicans voted against proposals to teach middle and high school students about consent, sexual orientation or gender identity. The board will take a final vote Friday. By Aliyya Swaby, The Texas Tribune Starting in 2022, seventh and eighth grade students in Texas will learn about forms of birth control beyond abstinence, but middle schoolers…
San Antonio Express-News editorial criticizes anti-LGBTQ smears in local political races
An editorial in the October 29 issue of the San Antonio Express-News points out anti-LGBTQ claims made in two local political races: The first for a seat on the NEISD school board, the other a race for a U.S. House seat. In the editorial, the newspaper writes, “Let’s be clear: Homophobia has no place in…
Texans urge state education board to expand sexual education standards and include LGBTQ information
More than 200 signed up to speak as the Texas State Board of Education began taking public testimony Monday on its first rewrite of sexual education policies since 1997. By Aliyya Swaby, The Texas Tribune At a marathon virtual hearing Monday, dozens of Texans implored the State Board of Education to dramatically update the minimum…
Texas Student is Bullied After Teacher Falsely Tells Class He’s Gay
The father of a high school student in Nixon, Texas, says his son is being bullied after his teacher falsely told the student’s classmates that the student is gay and uses his girlfriend to cover it up, WOAI-TV is reporting. The father says his son is not gay. The boy attends Nixon-Smiley High School which…
Attorney Says Local High School Student Beaten Up and Bullied for Being Gay
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. A quick Snapchat video taken last week shows a Louis D. Brandeis High School student being beaten up on a bus. The victim said he was targeted for his sexual orientation. Three students are facing disciplinary action. Northside I.S.D. officials are continuing to investigate the incident to determine…
School District Renews Contract of Lesbian Teacher Suspended for Mentioning Wife to Students
A lesbian elementary school teacher in Arlington, Texas has had her contract renewed for another year despite the fact she has been on paid suspension since last September after a parent complained the teacher had mentioned her same sex spouse to the students in her class. Stacy Bailey has been an art teacher at Charlotte…
Texas Teacher Suspended for Admitting to Students That She Has a Wife
Administrators at the Mansfield Independent School District are now saying that an elementary school art teacher, who was suspended after she sought LGBT protections for students and employees, was actually suspended because a parent had complained the teacher mentioned her wife to students. Stacy Bailey has been an art teacher at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School…
Abilene Christian University Bans Same-Sex Relationships for Some Student Employees
By Shannon Najmabadi, The Texas Tribune March 23, 2018 When Ryan Clements, a 25-year-old alumnus of Abilene Christian University, found out his alma mater was planning to ban some students’ same-sex dating relationships, he said it “hit home in a big way.” Clements, an openly gay Christian, said he felt pained “that a school that…
Texas Teacher Suspended After Seeking to Add LGBT Protections to School District’s Policy
A teacher from Arlington, Texas was put on administrative leave with pay after she sought to open a discussion about adding LGBT protections to the Mansfield Independent School District’s nondiscrimination policy. Stacy Bailey has been an art teacher at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School in Arlington for the past 10 years and is a former teacher…
UT Dallas Initiates Study to Determine Needs of LGBT Texans
Sociologists at the University of Texas at Dallas are starting work on what will be the first comprehensive needs assessment of LGBT communities throughout the state. The in-depth study is being spearheaded by Dr. Richard Scotch, professor of sociology, and Dr. Kara Sutton, a sociology lecturer. Both are affiliated with UT Dallas’ School of Economic,…