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Director of Women\u2019s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University of Texas, Lisa Moore browses books from the Ana Sisnett Library, shelved in Burdine Hall, Feb. 18, 2026. After UT shuttered the department along and folded its offerings into a new Department of Social Analysis, officials are considering cutting an LGBTQ minor.<\/p>\n
Sara Diggins\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n
After closing ethnic and gender studies departments over the summer<\/a>, the University of Texas College of Liberal Arts is recommending UT cut its LGBTQ minor and Race, Indigeneity and Migration major, according to an internal college document obtained by the Austin American-Statesman.<\/p>\n The LGBTQ minor was previously offered under the Women\u2019s, Gender and Sexuality Department<\/a>, and the race major was part of the African and African Diaspora Studies Department. In the fall, each department\u2019s offerings will be folded into a new Department of Social and Cultural Analysis. Both are still available to students this year.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The recommendation document\u00a0\u2014 titled \u201cDepartment of Social and Cultural Analysis Degree Program Proposal\u201d\u00a0\u2014 is unsigned and not dated. Faculty in the department received a copy of the plan Thursday afternoon from Danielle Clealand, who chairs the new academic unit. In her message, Clealand wrote that the proposal was sent from the College of Liberal Arts dean to the provost\u2019s office.<\/p>\n Two faculty members confirmed that though faculty were consulted on the elimination of the race major,\u00a0Clealand did not approve or suggest the elimination of the LGBTQ minor.\u00a0<\/p>\n Clealand and UT did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n When UT President Jim Davis announced consolidation in February<\/a>, he said the university would also review the departments’ curricular offerings. It is not clear when Provost William\u00a0Inboden could make a final decision on the future of the major and minor.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Want more Longhorn news? Sign up for our\u00a0free biweekly newsletter Inside UT<\/a>\u00a0for the Forty Acres rundown!<\/p>\n The proposed cuts come as universities across the state eliminate courses or programs related to LGBTQ topics and as conservative lawmakers target professors for teaching about gender identity. Texas Tech University System, led by former Republican state Sen. Brandon Creighton, banned the teaching of more than two genders on campus<\/a>. Texas A&M University<\/a> and Texas Tech have both cut their women\u2019s and gender studies departments.<\/p>\n No state law bans the teaching of gender or race in public universities and colleges, and all major medical organizations recognize the existence of transgender individuals.<\/p>\n The proposal states that while department faculty feel there is \u201cintellectual justification\u201d for retaining all current degree and minor offerings, the\u00a0LGBTQ minor and race major would be \u201cduplicative\u201d of other offerings, including a new major in the works.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/p>\n