The issue of gender identity has become a contentious topic in classrooms and at school board meetings nationwide, sparking concerns about academic freedom in the U.S.

In September, a viral video from Texas A&M captured a student in a children’s literature class disputing with a professor over the legality of discussing gender identity. The student argued that talking about transgender topics violated her religious beliefs and went against federal policy recognizing only two sexes.

This incident resulted in the professor being dismissed and the university president stepping down. Texas Governor Greg Abbott entered the conversation, referencing President Donald Trump’s executive order and a new state law defining sex strictly as male or female in a letter.

This led to a broader impact in Texas. At least four public universities, including Texas Tech, the University of North Texas, Texas Woman’s University, and the University of Texas, have instructed faculty to ensure their courses align with state and federal standards. The universities emphasize that the reviews are focused on compliance but have not specified what, if any, modifications will follow the reviews.

LGBTQ+ advocates argue this could set a risky precedent. The Texas Tribune noted that no state law explicitly forbids teaching topics like gender identity or the acknowledgment of more than two sexes.

“They are compromising academic freedom. They are diminishing our institution’s credibility and denying students the comprehensive education they deserve,” said Ash Lazarus Orr, a transgender activist. “If we truly want universities to prepare students for the real world, it means prioritizing truth, scholarship, and inclusivity over politics.”

In August, Abbott signed a bill barring transgender people from using multiple-occupancy bathrooms and changing rooms that align with their identity in schools and government-owned buildings. The bill goes into effect Dec. 4.

From access to restrooms to classroom curriculum, debates around gender identity are playing out in states across the country. A California school board meeting took an unusual turn when a woman removed her clothes in protest. The woman, a member of the conservative group Moms for Liberty, stripped down to a bikini to protest the district’s policies on transgender students and locker rooms.

The Davis Unified School District allows transgender students to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. The woman, who has a transgender child, said she wanted to give the board an idea of how uncomfortable that policy can be for bystanders.

For now, other states, such as Florida and Utah, are closely watching Texas to see how those reviews unfold and what actions are taken in response.