Texas school accused of secretly changing student's gender

Lawyers are demanding answers from a Texas high school after parents claimed the school secretly changed their child's gender identity. The family alleges that Bellaire High School, part of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), began using a masculine name and male pronouns for their daughter without their consent. According to the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a legal advocacy group, this situation began in the fall of 2023 when school staff began referring to the female student by a masculine name. The parents discovered this change when they saw the name on schoolwork in December 2023. They quickly instructed teachers to stop using the name, which was initially agreed upon, but it allegedly continued. In September 2024, the parents met with Principal Michael Niggli to request that school staff only use their daughter’s legal name and female pronouns. Niggli suggested finding a compromise regarding the name used at school. Following this, the parents sent an email asking for clarity on the issue, but the principal replied that there would be no directives regarding the name. The ADF has now asked HISD for assurance that the school will follow the parents' instructions about their daughter's name and pronouns. They are also requesting records related to the school’s policies on gender identity and name usage. The letter demands a response by March 21. This case has gained attention partly because of statements from a representative of a parental action group, who spoke about the situation at an HISD school board meeting. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has since called for an investigation into the allegations, stating that no parent should face such situations with their children. The ADF noted discrepancies in HISD's responses to their public records requests, which raises concerns about transparency. They are emphasizing the need for clarity on how schools handle cases involving students struggling with gender identity and what training teachers receive in such situations. HISD serves over 189,000 students and is one of the largest school districts in Texas. The outcome of this situation may lead to further legal action if the school does not comply with the parents' requests or provide clear answers.