COMING SOON....

Temporary Injunction

March 24th, 2025

The Queer Empowerment Council at Texas A&M is overjoyed at the injunction granted by Judge Rosenthal today which allows for Draggieland to be held at Rudder Theatre on Thursday, March 27th. The fight for queer acceptance continues, but this is an excellent display of the resilience of queer joy as that is an unstoppable force despite those that wish to destroy it. Our work with FIRE is just getting started, but this sets a precedent for free speech on college campuses. Please follow us on @Draggieland on Instagram for more details on how to support us further.

Initial Ban

February 28th, 2025

The Queer Empowerment Council (QEC) of Texas A&M University is profoundly disheartened by the recent decision made by the Board of Regents during their special meeting, which resulted in an outright ban on drag shows across all campuses within the Texas A&M University System. This decision directly affects Draggieland, an acclaimed event that has become a hallmark of celebration and expression within our community. 

Draggieland has been a vibrant and award-winning student-run event for many years, embodying queer joy and unity. Its cancellation at Rudder Theatre, scheduled for March 27, 2025, represents not just the loss of an event, but a significant blow to the LGBTQ+ community's representation and expression on campus. The power of drag as a medium of art is undeniable, serving as a platform for self-discovery, inclusivity, and celebration of diversity. QEC firmly believes that the Board of Regents' decision undermines these values, which are vital to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for all students. The cancellation follows the loss of our Pride Center due to the implications of SB 17, making it all the more crucial for events like Draggieland to continue. 

In response to this setback, QEC is actively exploring alternative options to reschedule Draggieland, either on the same date or at a later time in a different venue. We are committed to ensuring that our voices are heard, and that Draggieland will go on, no matter the obstacles we face. Refunds for ticket holders have begun being processed, with the QEC working diligently to support our community during this time. We encourage those who wish to show their support to sign our petition at tx.ag/DragPetition, visit tx.ag/QECStore for donations, and purchase merchandise if you are in the Bryan-College Station area. Your contributions will help us continue our mission of advocacy and representation.

Texas DPS to stop updating gender markers

On August 20, 2024, the Texas Department of Public Safety stopped updating gender markers on driver's licenses and state IDs. Although not limited to Texas A&M, this affects A&M students and the BCS community at large. 
Please see "Legal Resources" > "Name and gender marker changes" section for more information.

Ending of HRT at Student Health Services

On July 1st, 2024, Texas A&M University Health Services (UHS) informed students receiving gender-affirming care that it would no longer offer these services. This decision, effective August 1st—just one month after the announcement—was made without prior discussion or warning to the affected students. UHS representatives stated that the change was due to a restructuring of resources, not political pressure. For more information, please refer to our statement, email template, and petition. 

A list of alternative care providers can be found in the "Medical & Mental Health Resources" > "Trans-specific resources" section.

Title IX

On April 19, 2024, the Biden administration released updated Title IX regulations, expanding protections for LGBTQ+ students, pregnant and parenting students, and allowing for more flexibility in handling sexual assault cases, among other changes. However, the state of Texas filed a lawsuit against the administration over these updates.

On July 11, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk issued a Memorandum and Order temporarily blocking the new Title IX regulations in Texas until the lawsuit is resolved. As a result, Texas A&M is prohibited from implementing any part of the updated regulations. A statement from the Texas A&M System regarding this ruling can be found here.

Senate Bill No. 12

On June 18, 2023, the Texas Senate approved Senate Bill (SB) No. 12. This bill became effective on September 1, 2023, but has since been ruled unconstitutional.

The bill states: 

• “A person who controls the premises of a commercial enterprise may not allow a sexually oriented performance to be presented on the premises in the presence of an individual younger than 18 years of age.” (Sec. 769.002,  Subsection A)

• “A person who violates this section is liable to this state for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation.” (Sec. 769.002,  Subsection B)

In response, lawsuits were pressed by business owners, actors and drag performers arguing that the bill is too broad and infringes on First Amendment rights to free speech. On September 26, 2023, a federal judge (US District Judge David Hittner of Houston) struck down SB 12 as a violation of the First Amendment right to free speech. In response to this, the author of SB 12 (Senator Bryan Hughs) said he would challenge the ruling. A spokesperson for the Texas Attorney General’s Office said they will appeal the ruling; however, no appeal has been made at this time, so Draggieland and other shows are still able to happen.

Senate Bill No. 17

On June 17, 2023, the Texas Senate approved Senate Bill (SB) No. 17. This bill became effective on January 1, 2024. 

The bill states: “An institution of higher education may not establish or maintain a diversity, equity, and inclusion office or hire or assign an employee of the institution, or contact with a third party, to perform the duties of a diversity, equity, and inclusion office.” (Sec. 51.9317, Subsection B)

West Texas A&M Drag Show Cancelation

West Texas A&M, a member of the Texas A&M system, was to put on a student-led drag show on March 31, 2023. On March 20, 2023, West Texas President Walter Wendler canceled the drag show, claiming that drag shows “discriminate against womanhood” and are comparable to blackface. In response, Spectrum WT (a group for LGBTQ+ students and allies) filed a lawsuit against the university for violating free speech. 

On September 22, 2023, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmarky ruled that the university did not violate student’s freedom of speech, allowing the ban to remain in place. 

On March 15, 2024, the Supreme Court declined to intervene in the lawsuit.