Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken steps to investigate Dallas Independent School District (ISD) and Irving ISD regarding their compliance with Texas state law on gender participation in school sports. The Attorney General's office has requested documents from both districts following reports that officials may have advised parents in ways that could undermine the state's legal protections for women's athletics.
The investigation was prompted by footage of district officials discussing methods for allowing male students to compete in girls' sports by altering birth certificates. Dallas ISD’s LGBT Youth Program Coordinator, Mahoganie Gaston, was recorded suggesting that a parent could change their son's birth certificate to "female" to enable participation in girls' sports. Gaston stated the district "find[s] the loopholes in everything" and expressed willingness to face legal consequences for not adhering to Texas law. Similarly, Reny Lizardo, Executive Director of Campus Operations at Irving ISD, reportedly conveyed similar advice about changing a student's birth certificate.
Attorney General Paxton expressed strong disapproval of these actions: “The idea of school district officials turning their backs on female students and sacrificing the integrity of women’s athletics to advance the radical transgender agenda is disgusting, but that seems to be exactly what occurred here,” he said. He emphasized his commitment to addressing any attempts by school districts to bypass state regulations: “Any systematic effort by a school district to sidestep state law and allow biological boys to play in girls’ sports in Texas will be rooted out, and my office will explore all avenues to hold those responsible to account.”