Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has requested extensive documentation from Dallas Independent School District (DISD) and Irving Independent School District (IISD) to determine whether the districts are allowing male students to compete in girls’ sports.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) sent letters to the superintendents of both districts after reports surfaced suggesting that school officials had given parents guidance that could indicate a policy of circumventing state laws protecting women’s athletics.
A video recording allegedly shows Dallas ISD’s LGBT Youth Program Coordinator, Mahoganie Gaston, informing a parent that a male student could participate in girls’ sports if the student’s birth certificate was changed to “female.” Gaston also reportedly stated that the district “find[s] the loopholes in everything” and expressed willingness to face legal consequences for opposing Texas law.
A similar statement was reportedly made by Irving ISD’s Executive Director of Campus Operations, Reny Lizardo, who was recorded telling a parent that a male student could play in girls' sports if the student’s birth certificate was altered to reflect a female designation. Lizardo resigned from the school district after Governor Abbott posted his concern on social media.
In Paxton's letter to Superintendent Magda Hernandez, Paxton asks for the following documents:
- All policies and training material related to compliance with the requirements of H.B. 25;
- Any communications, including emails, to district employees regarding the determination of a student’s eligibility to participate in interscholastic sports based on sex, including the use of birth certificates or other governmental documents;
- A copy of Mr. Lizardo’s resignation letter, confirming his last day of employment; and
- Any organizational charts documenting Mr. Lizardo’s placement within the Irving ISD management structure.
The documents are due by February 18th.
Attorney General Paxton condemned the alleged 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,” Paxton stated. “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.”
