A Texas State University professor is under fire after allegedly telling students that sex is not biologically determined but “assigned at birth.” The claim, reported by a student in a recent class, has drawn sharp criticism amid Texas’s new law affirming that sex is based on immutable biological facts.
The professor, whose name has not been disclosed, reportedly stated to the class, “We’re not born with a sex… Sex is socially constructed.” The claim directly contradicts House Bill 229, signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025. The legislation defines sex based on reproductive function—female for individuals who produce ova, male for those who fertilize them.
House Bill 229, known as the Women’s Bill of Rights, mandates that public institutions, including universities, use biological sex definitions in all official records and policies. The law also reinforces single-sex spaces such as women’s bathrooms, sports teams, and prisons. It explicitly prohibits public entities from using subjective gender identity in place of biological sex for legal and administrative purposes.
Critics of the professor’s comments argue that such classroom instruction undermines science, morality, and state law. Texas lawmakers designed HB 229 to combat what they describe as a radical ideological agenda that seeks to erase distinctions between men and women. Statements made in academic settings like this raise concerns about institutional neutrality and the imposition of gender ideology on students.
The student who reported the professor’s statement said the classroom atmosphere felt hostile to differing views. The student’s account was published by The College Fix, a conservative higher education watchdog. No disciplinary action against the professor has been reported as of July 5.
Texas State University has not issued a public response regarding the incident. However, this case highlights growing national tension over whether universities should present controversial gender theories as factual instruction, particularly in states where biological definitions of sex are now legally mandated.
This incident signals a growing divide between progressive academia and conservative state law. With Texas drawing clear lines around biological truth, challenges from within the classroom may continue unless checked by institutional accountability.
