A Texas school district has approved a new policy that bans the use of preferred pronouns, classroom discussions on sexual orientation, and transgender sports participation.
The Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District, which is located in an affluent Dallas suburb, approved the policy in a 4-3 vote on Monday night, according to multiple reports.
Under the new rules, teachers will only have to refer to students by the pronouns that match their sex assigned at birth — regardless of what the child’s parent has requested.
Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District in Texas voted to ban use of preferred pronouns, classroom discussions on sexual orientation, and transgender sports participation. Google Maps
Those below 6th grade are also now banned from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity, while any conversation about gender fluidity is prohibited in all grades.
The policy will also require transgender students to play on sports teams and use the restroom that matches their biological sex.
“The policy on the agenda … that keeps girls competing against biological girls is very important to me,” a grandmother, who wasn’t named, told theTexas Tribune amid the vote.
“I want to make sure that my granddaughters can enjoy the fruits and labor of my generation by participating in fair competitive sports.”
Nearly 200 people had signed up to speak at the regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting, which lasted for eight hours.
Board president Casey Ford insisted the new policy was a “reflection of Texas law and community values” — but not all parents were happy.
“You can talk about Santa Claus, but you can’t talk about gay people to fifth graders,” outraged father, Mike Sexton, told the outlet.
“This is incredible — you’re acting like people don’t exist. There are thousands of people in this district that are LGBTQ, that live here, that are taxpayers.”
Grapevine-Colleyville is just the latest school district across the US to take action on culture war issues, including critical race theory and banning controversial library books.
A Christian school in Florida last week implemented similar gender pronoun rules but went a step further by saying gay and transgender students will be asked to leave.
Grace Christian School in Valrico, about 20 miles outside Tampa, informed parents of the new policy via email.
