Texas School Official Resigns Following Undercover Video on Transgender Sports Policy

Governor Abbott calls for criminal and civil investigations into Irving ISD after hidden-camera footage reveals guidance on circumventing state law.

Reny Lizardo, an Irving ISD administrator, was recorded advising a journalist posing as a parent on how to bypass Texas' transgender sports ban by altering birth certificates out of state.
In the video, Lizardo suggested that schools could claim 'plausible deniability' if compliance with the law was questioned, adding, 'It's not illegal if you don't get caught.'
The Save Women’s Sports Act, passed in Texas in 2023, mandates that student athletes compete based on the sex listed on their birth certificates, with limited exceptions for clerical errors.
Governor Greg Abbott has demanded Lizardo’s firing and launched calls for criminal and civil investigations against both Lizardo and Irving ISD for potential legal violations.
Irving ISD has stated that Lizardo acted outside his role and accepted his resignation while affirming compliance with state laws regarding student athlete participation.