Angelo State Allows Pride Flags, Keeps Anti-Trans Policies

"Directives related to a slate of convoluted and sometimes contradictory new policies prohibiting discussion of transgender topics and identity have left employees at Angelo State University frightened and confused. As of Monday, conversations and content about transgender identities are still prohibited, but employees are allowed to use students' preferred names, display rainbow flags in their offices and on their cars, and talk about lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer identities, according to emails from department heads to faculty obtained by Inside Higher Ed."

"Others are still responding to the initial policies handed down to employees Friday following a meeting with Angelo State leadership. The policies are stringent and exhaustive: no pride flags, no calling students by the singular "they" or using their preferred names (unless it aligns with their sex assigned at birth), no pronouns in email signatures and no mention of the fact that there are more genders than the two assigned at birth."

Angelo State University issued new convoluted and sometimes contradictory directives prohibiting discussion of transgender topics and identity, causing fear and confusion among employees. As of Monday, conversations and content about transgender identities remain prohibited, while employees may use students' preferred names, display rainbow flags in offices and cars, and discuss lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer identities. Clarifications followed a meeting among deans, the provost and university counsel, but many enforcement details remain unresolved. Some faculty received updated guidance while others continue to follow initial stricter measures banning pride flags, singular "they," mismatched preferred names, pronouns in email signatures, and mentions of genders beyond two.

Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs