Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
\As of March 19, 2025, the University of Texas (UT) System Board of Regents has announced a ban on drag shows across all campuses within its jurisdiction. UT Board of Regents Chairman Kevin P. Eltife confirmed through a media statement that public university facilities will no longer host drag performances, nor will such events receive university sponsorship.
Chairman Eltife emphasized the UT System’s commitment to aligning campus activities with current federal regulations. Specifically, this decision adheres to an executive order issued in January by President Donald Trump, which prohibits using federal funds for activities deemed to promote “gender ideology.”
Calls from local leaders, notably Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare, also influenced the UT System’s decision.
This policy shift mirrors a recent action by the Texas A&M University System, which similarly banned drag shows across its 11 university campuses through a resolution passed on February 28, 2025. That decision faces legal challenges from LGBTQ+ student organizations at Texas A&M.
The UT System’s ban is officially in effect, but whether similar legal challenges will emerge in response remains to be seen. Chairman Eltife indicated that the UT Board of Regents is prepared to implement additional measures necessary to uphold the newly announced policy.
(Information attributed to statement of UT System Board of Regents and Chairman Kevin P. Eltife.)
