Texas A&M fires professor over gender-identity lesson in literature course

Texas A&M University fired a professor Tuesday over course instruction related to gender identity. The professor's lawyer told NBC News that her client "has appealed her termination and is exploring further legal action."

Texas A&M University fired a professor Tuesday over course instruction related to gender identity after a Republican state lawmaker shared a video that appears to show a student at the university telling the professor that such instruction was “illegal” due to one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders. The head of the university’s English department and a dean were also removed from their posts due to the incident.

In the now-viral video, shared by state Rep. Brian Harrison on social media Monday morning, a professor can be heard mentioning “gender and sexuality,” and then a student can be heard interrupting and telling the professor, “I’m not entirely sure this is legal to be teaching.” The student then mentioned Trump’s executive order that declares the U.S. only recognizes two unchangeable sexes and prohibits federal funds from being used to “promote gender ideology.”

The professor, identified in multiple local reports as Melissa McCoul, then disagreed with the student, saying, “What we are doing is not illegal.” She recommended the student speak to the department head or the head of undergraduates and then asked her to leave the class.

In response to a request for comment regarding the termination and the video, which is undated but appears to be from a summer course, McCoul referred NBC News to her lawyer, Amanda Reichek. In an emailed statement, Reichek, an attorney with Tillotson Johnson and Patton in Dallas, confirmed McCoul was terminated Tuesday and that it was her voice in the viral video.

Reichek said McCoul’s notice of termination alleged that she was repeatedly instructed to change the course content “to align with the catalog description and the course description that was originally submitted and approved” and that McCoul failed to do so.