Texas A&M Gender Studies Overhaul and Professor’s Firing Spur Federal Free‑Speech Lawsuit
Texas A&M has moved to end its Women’s and Gender Studies degree program, and the university is facing a federal lawsuit after senior English lecturer Melissa McCoul was fired following a viral July 2025 classroom video of a student objecting to a children’s literature discussion of gender identity. McCoul’s Houston lawsuit alleges her firing violated her First Amendment and due‑process rights, notes that two internal review bodies found she was denied due process and that there was no cause for termination (despite the administration upholding the firing), and names former president Mark Welsh (who resigned), interim president Tommy Williams, Chancellor Glenn Hegar and the Texas A&M System Board of Regents as defendants while seeking reinstatement and damages; the episode prompted public calls for her ouster from Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republicans.
📌 Key Facts
- On Feb. 5, 2026, senior English lecturer Melissa McCoul filed a federal lawsuit in Houston against Texas A&M, alleging her firing over a gender‑identity lesson violated her First Amendment and due‑process rights.
- McCoul was terminated after a viral July 2025 classroom video showed a student objecting to a children’s literature discussion of gender identity, amid the backdrop of President Trump’s executive order on related issues.
- The viral video prompted public calls for McCoul’s ouster by Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican officials.
- Two separate internal Texas A&M review bodies concluded the university denied McCoul due process and lacked cause to fire her.
- Despite those internal findings, the university administration upheld her termination.
- Named defendants in the lawsuit include former president Mark Welsh (who resigned after the uproar), interim president Tommy Williams, Chancellor Glenn Hegar, and the Texas A&M System Board of Regents; McCoul is seeking reinstatement and damages.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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- Senior English lecturer Melissa McCoul has filed a federal lawsuit in Houston against Texas A&M, alleging her firing over a gender‑identity lesson violated her First Amendment and due‑process rights.
- McCoul was terminated after a viral July 2025 classroom video showed a student objecting to a children’s literature discussion of gender identity under President Trump’s executive order, prompting public calls for her ouster by Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republicans.
- Two separate internal Texas A&M review bodies concluded the university denied McCoul due process and lacked cause to fire her, yet the administration upheld her termination.
- Named defendants include former president Mark Welsh (who resigned after the uproar), interim president Tommy Williams, Chancellor Glenn Hegar, and the Texas A&M System Board of Regents; McCoul seeks reinstatement and damages.