The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas has recently lodged complaints demanding federal investigations into an alleged breach of Title IX at a charter school and a school district. Title IX, a federal law, prohibits sex-based discrimination, including anti-LGBTQ+ bias, in educational institutions receiving federal funding.
One complaint targets the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, a public charter school, concerning the case of a transgender and nonbinary student named Margo Moe. Margo, aiming to join the prestigious Singing Girls of Texas choir, faced resistance from the school’s leadership. Despite successfully completing the audition, the school’s president attempted to halt auditions. Subsequently, a policy was enacted to determine choir eligibility based on sex assigned at birth, contradicting the stance of choir directors who supported inclusion of trans and nonbinary individuals.
In a parallel complaint, the ACLU has confronted the Keller Independent School District near Fort Worth. This district is accused of implementing policies that restrict restroom and locker room access for transgender and nonbinary students, as well as encouraging the deliberate misgendering of these students by staff and peers.
Both cases have stirred outrage among advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, urging educational environments that are inclusive and safe for all students. These incidents also intersect with the broader debate on gender identity representation in school curricula. As the ACLU champions these complaints, the debate over the rights of LGBTQ+ students within educational institutions continues to intensify.