A transgender music teacher in Texas has been forced to abandon the profession he loved, citing the state's hostile political climate and specifically a recently enacted bathroom ban as the final straw that robbed him of his dignity.
The Impossible Choice: Teaching or Dignity
Until recently, the man, now in his late twenties, taught music at a school in north Texas. He was "stealth" at work, meaning he passed as a cisgender man, with only school administrators aware he was trans. This decision was heavily influenced by the political environment in Texas, which has spent a decade attempting to pass restrictive bathroom legislation.
In December, Texas finally implemented its bathroom ban, applying to restrooms and changing rooms in public buildings, schools, and universities. The law mandates fines of $25,000 for a first offence and $125,000 for subsequent violations if someone is reported using a facility that doesn't align with their sex assigned at birth.
Although he could physically "pass" and use the correct bathroom, the teacher lived in constant fear. "If someone were to report me to the district, it would cost my school $25,000," he explained. With Texas public schools already under severe financial strain, he felt he couldn't risk being responsible for such a penalty, nor the potential personal harm from being "caught."
A Daily Humiliation and Physical Toll
The policy forced him into impossible daily routines. He would drive to a gas station to use the bathroom or hold it in for hours, leading to multiple urinary tract infections. The physical and mental strain was immense. "My mind was more clouded. My body was breaking down. I was exhausted because I was not sleeping," he said.
He continued to perform for his students, but knew he was deteriorating. "I still found ways to pull it together for my students, but I knew that eventually I wouldn't be the best version of myself for them." He ultimately described the law as "humiliation disguised as policy" and resigned before the winter holiday break.
A Career Born from a Safe Space, Lost to Hostility
Teaching music was his calling. He started playing at age 11, using music as a coping mechanism before he had the words to understand his transgender identity. "Music class gave me a place where I felt like I belonged and had purpose," he recalled. He became a teacher to offer that same sanctuary to his own students, creating engaging lessons from composing comic strip theme songs to outdoor rhythm activities.
His optimism when he began teaching under President Biden gradually eroded. The political landscape turned increasingly dangerous with a 2023 ban on healthcare for trans youth and a slew of further anti-trans laws in 2025. These included House Bill 229, which introduced a narrow biological definition of sex, banned changes to gender markers on legal documents, and prohibited teaching about gender identity or sexual orientation in schools.
The climate of fear intensified. After Donald Trump's election, he described the trans community in Texas entering "survival mode," shifting communications to anonymous platforms and sharing locations for safety.
His departure from teaching was swiftly followed by state Attorney General Ken Paxton launching a "tip line" for reporting bathroom ban violations, a move the teacher fears incentivises bad-faith accusations.
Moving On, But Grieving a Lost Vocation
Now working in tech support for a financial company—a job secured with help from friends—he is rebuilding his life. The new role offers better insurance, covering procedures like top surgery that cost him $7,500 out-of-pocket as a teacher. Yet, the loss is profound. "Leaving teaching is like saying goodbye to a part of myself. It feels like grief," he admitted.
His hope now lies in the resilience of his community. "The harder things get, the closer I see my community getting," he said, though he acknowledges he may not be able to stay in Texas long-term. For now, he advocates in safer ways, speaking to local church groups about allyship.
He leaves behind a significant hole in his school and a simple, unfulfilled goal: "My goal as a music teacher was simply to be there for the kids."
