AUSTIN, Texas — Just weeks after Texas A&M banned drag shows on all campuses, University of Texas System leaders have followed suit. 

What You Need To Know

  • The University of Texas System has banned drag shows from its campuses, UT System Board of Regents Chair Kevin Eltife announced Tuesday

  • Eltife said the move is to “comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and executive orders, including any restriction on the use of public funds”

  • The ban came nearly a week after Republican Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare sent a letter to Eltife urging the ban. Whether the letter prompted UT’s decision isn't clear

  • Eltife was appointed to the board by Gov. Greg Abbott, a defender of the drag ban at Texas A&M that was implemented earlier this month. Students have since sued Texas A&M over the ban

UT System Board of Regents Chair Kevin Eltife announced the news in a statement Tuesday, the Texas Tribune reports.

“If the board of regents needs to take further action to make this clear, we will do so,” Eltife said. He added that the move is to “comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and executive orders, including any restriction on the use of public funds.”

Eltife was appointed to the board by Gov. Greg Abbott, a defender of Texas A&M's drag ban. In January, the governor directed state agencies to "reject woke gender ideologies," and said Texas only recognizes the male and female gender, citing an executive order from President Donald Trump that echoes similar beliefs.

UT's ban comes nearly a week after Republican Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare sent a letter to Eltife urging the board to ban drag shows at the system's campuses.

In the letter, O’Hare cited the same executive order from Trump that says “federal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology.” O'Hare said the UT System should comply with the order since it receives federal funding.

The conservative judge and UT Austin alumnus claimed drag shows “denigrate women” and later said he was encouraged after Texas A&M enforced its own ban.

“Drag shows highlight men reducing the perception of women to stereotypes and body parts,” O’Hare said in his letter. “I would be encouraged to see the UT System focus on fostering environments of learning and not use resources to prop up sexually-oriented events.”

Since taking office in 2023, O’Hare has pushed far-right policies in his North Texas county, promoting Christian nationalism and pushing back against LGBTQ+ rights.

Whether his letter prompted UT’s decision to ban drag shows is not clear.

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According to the Tribune, U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal on Tuesday heard arguments on whether to temporarily block the ban. When she’ll make a decision is not known.

A Texas A&M student organization called the Queer Empowerment Council sued the university over its own ban earlier this month.