(Texas Scorecard) – The University of North Texas System has “paused” drag shows across its campuses, citing compliance with state and federal executive orders prohibiting taxpayer funding of gender ideology.
On March 28, UNT System Chancellor Michael Williams sent a directive to university leaders ending drag shows on all campus venues, according to student newspaper North Texas Daily.
“As a public university it is our responsibility to comply with all applicable federal and state laws and executive orders while balancing our duty to carry out our core missions of teaching, learning and research,” Williams wrote in the directive.
UNT is now the third system to end on-campus drag shows. The Texas A&M University System regents started the trend with a resolution in late February, and the University of Texas System followed suit on March 18.
The decisions cited compliance with executive orders from President Donald J. Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott, which prohibit the use of taxpayer funds to promote “gender ideology.”
Texas A&M’s Board of Regents now faces a lawsuit from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression on behalf of the Queer Empowerment Council—the student group that organizes the annual on-campus drag show, “Draggieland.”
A federal judge temporarily blocked the regents’ ban last week, allowing “Draggieland” to proceed in Rudder Theatre at the university’s flagship campus in College Station.
Williams’ directive says UNT will “wait on a definitive ruling on litigation against other Texas universities” before providing “necessary guidance.”
Two drag shows were scheduled to take place on the UNT campus in April: GLAD Queer Alliance UNT Drag Show 2025 on April 10 and UNT Gammas Drag Night with the Sigma Lambda Gammas on April 11.
How student groups respond to the directive remains uncertain, including whether they will pursue a legal challenge or relocate their events off campus.
In May 2024, UNT’s University Program Council’s Drag Show and the University Libraries’ Campus Pride Week were canceled by its Office of General Counsel, citing compliance with Senate Bill 17.
The state law prohibits public universities from “conducting trainings, programs, or activities in reference to race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.”
The UNT System did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s request for comment by the time of publication and did not provide a copy of the chancellor’s directive.