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The inclusion of an LGBT class in Texas A&M University's core curriculum has been vetoed by President Mark Welsh.
A request was made by the faculty senate to include the class in the university’s core curriculum for social and behavioral sciences. The class was titled “Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies.”
Here were some of the outcomes offered for the Intro to LGBT class in Fall 2024:
Discuss social constructionist and essentialist theories of sexuality and gender, focusing on “LGBTQ identities”
Explore intersections with race, class, nationality, and (dis)ability
Teach key “LGBTQ” vocabulary for inclusivity
Analyze social, legal, and political structures that “reinforce cis/heteronormativity, homo/bi/transphobia, and heterosexism”
The authors of the class textbook also honor same-sex pederast relationships.
Founder and President of Texas Youth Summit Christian Collins believes President Welsh has made the right decision here.
"Right now, the winds are blowing in a more conservative direction and so Mark Welsh, a smart guy, recognizes that and realizes now is not the time to be pushing an LGBT class that's going to maybe cause a public outcry," Collins said.
Other universities and large corporations have decided to roll back their previous DEI initiatives and other related practices that focus on sex, gender and transgenderism. Some might say President Trump is the main driving force behind those decisions.
"Because President Trump won the 2024 election, you're seeing widespread 'wokeness' disintegrate," said Collins. "You're seeing this with many companies around the country like Harley Davidson and Chase Bank that are being more warm to President Trump."
Collins said it's time that DEI programs and woke ideology is removed from every corporation and place of education.
"We need to go after these woke institutions, not just at the college and university level, but the public school level too," he said. "We need to help young people compete in a global economy and unfortunately we're not doing that when we push them in this direction."
Faculty senates are different from boards of regents, who are appointed through elected public servants. They often focus on advancing ideological ideas over specific education standards. Earlier this year, the TAMU board of regents ended the university’s LGBTQ minor, which the LGBT class was a part of.
The Texas A&M University System did not immediately respond to a request for comment.