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Governor Greg Abbott has issued a directive to Texas state agency heads, urging them to adhere to both state and federal laws regarding gender ideologies. This move includes compliance with an executive order from President Donald Trump.
"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," Abbott's letter states. "Others have sought to distort the guarantee that men and women must be treated equally in order to impose mandates concerning sexual orientation and gender identity."
On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." This order rejects efforts by the Biden-Harris Administration related to gender ideology. Governor Abbott emphasized his role as Chief Executive Officer of Texas in ensuring compliance with this directive. He instructed all Texas agencies to align their rules, policies, employment practices, and actions with the notion that there are only two sexes—male and female.
Abbott's administration has previously opposed initiatives from former President Joe Biden aimed at revising Title IX rules concerning sexual orientation and gender identity. Actions taken include:
- Condemning President Biden's reinterpretation of Title IX.
- Directing the Texas Education Agency to disregard new rules proposed by the Biden Administration.
- Instructing public university systems and community colleges in Texas not to implement system-wide policies based on Biden’s interpretation of Title IX.