IRVING, Texas — An Irving ISD administrator resigned this week after a hidden camera video apparently revealed the administrator discussing whether transgender students could play on sports teams that align with their gender identity despite Texas law.
Gov. Greg Abbott called for the administrator’s firing and investigations into the school district after the video was posted.
In the video, which was posted by the conservative watchdog group Accuracy In Media, a woman, later identified as an “undercover journalist” is heard discussing potentially moving to Texas with her transgender daughter, and asks a man, identified as an Irving ISD administrator, whether her child could play on the girls’ soccer team.
In the video, the administrator acknowledges that the child wouldn’t be able to be put on the girls’ soccer team if the child wasn’t a “female by birth” by state law, but noted that if the child’s birth certificate is changed, school officials could accept what’s on the document.
“Could you legally change a gender on a birth certificate? I don’t know enough about that subject,” the administrator asks in the video. “If you can get that done and you turn us in a birth certificate that says this gender, that’s the gender we go with.”
“It’s not illegal if you don’t get caught,” the administrator continued at one point. “If no one knew, then we’re good.”
The administrator said if someone found out and sued the district over the issue, “We’d be in trouble,” but because school districts follow what’s listed on birth certificates submitted, school officials could say, “We didn’t know…so there’s a plausible deniability.”
On its website, Accuracy in Media claims it uses “investigative journalism and cultural Activision to expose corruption and hold bad public policy actors accountable.” Representatives of the group have met with educators, including in North Texas, purporting to be parents seeking to move to Texas from out of state concerned about issues like Texas’ ban on transgender athletes or diversity equity and inclusion initiatives.
After the video was posted this week, Gov. Abbott re-shared the video on X and called for the administrator’s firing.
“This Irving ISD administrator should be fired on the spot,” Abbott wrote. “Both criminal and civil investigations must be taken against both the administrator and Irving ISD. Has Irving ISD and its employees been involved in a fraudulent breach of state laws & cover up? We must get the facts.”
Irving ISD in a statement said it was aware of the footage, which the district says was taken under “false pretenses,” was edited and “an incomplete representation of the entire conversation,” but the administrator resigned and the district accepted it.
Read the district’s full statement below
“In Irving ISD, we are committed to upholding the requirements of state and federal laws, especially as it pertains to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, and we will cooperate with any investigation initiated by relevant authorities. We are aware of the unauthorized video footage circulating on social media of an individual connected with Irving ISD. The videos were obtained under false pretenses by an individual who posed as a concerned parent and additional individuals who posed as family friends of the employee pictured. The individuals also held themselves out as members of the media, but were not credentialed as such, constituting a breach of security.
“In addition, the footage has been edited and is an incomplete representation of the entire conversation, making it difficult to properly assess its probative value. Nevertheless, we want to reiterate that Irving ISD complies with all state and federal laws and all employees are expected to adhere to any and all legal and ethical standards. The message conveyed in the video, as presented, does not reflect the views nor policies of the district.”