FORT BEND, Texas – The Fort Bend ISD school board voted on a gender fluidity policy Monday night.
At the conclusion of a board meeting that lasted more than four hours, the board voted to pass the policy with a 5-2 vote.
About the new policy
Part of the policy would restrict facility usage and athletic competitions based on biological gender and require staff to notify parents if their child wants to go by a different gender.
“The moment that I heard about this policy, it disturbed me,” said Jarred Burton a Katy ISD Senior who planned to attend tonight’s meeting.
Other districts in the Greater Houston area including Katy ISD have enacted similar policies, and likewise, it comes with mixed opinions.
Here’s a full breakdown of what the policy means:
- Staff are banned from asking for preferred pronouns and will notify parents if a student wants to change their name to identify as transgender or use pronouns different than their biological gender.
- Students cannot enter athletic competitions not designated for their biological gender.
- District bathrooms and locker rooms will be for the exclusive use of a specific designated sex.
- Staff cannot diagnose gender dysphoria.
- Instructional materials cannot promote gender fluidity and will be removed from classroom settings.
Ayaan Moledina, a Federal Policy Director for SEAT or Students Engaged in Advancing Texas. a non-profit made up of young people advocating for a seat at the table in educational policymaking said he believes the policy is short sighted.
"I think it sends a message, that we’ve been hearing loud and clear from the President of the United States, from the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Texas, and now as well as the people in our local communities who are supposed to be on our side, is that LGBTQ students, you’re not welcome here," said Moledina."
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The school board had a meeting last Monday to clarify the policy, where one school board member said the proposed policy takes into account the rights and feelings of all students in the district.
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KPRC 2 also reached out to Moms for Liberty, a group that claims to be fighting for the survival of America by unifying, educating, and empowering parents. We obtained this statement from Denise Bell, a spokesperson for the Harris County chapter.
Moms for Liberty Harris County commends Fort Bend ISD for taking a strong step toward affirming the vital role of parents through the proposed “Parental Rights and Responsibilities Policy.” We sincerely hope this important measure is adopted during the upcoming board meeting.
This policy is essential in protecting children from being socially transitioned by school personnel without the knowledge or consent of their parents—a troubling issue that has arisen in various districts across Texas. One such incident occurred in the Houston area, where a parent discovered their child was being socially transitioned at Bellaire High School without their awareness. As the Chapter Chair and on behalf of the parent, I personally brought this case to light during public comments at the February HISD School Board meeting.
These situations make it clear that strong school board policies—and even state-level protections—are urgently needed to ensure parents remain the primary decision-makers in their children’s lives, particularly when it comes to sensitive issues like identity and emotional well-being. Safeguarding children starts with empowering parents, and Fort Bend ISD’s proposal is a meaningful move in that direction.
