Texas State University promoted a free campus event titled “Sex in the Dark” on August 24 at the LBJ Student Center Teaching Theater. The program offered an anonymous question‑and‑answer panel staffed by faculty members labeled “SEXperts,” as well as health‑promotion peer educators. Attendees also received glow‑in‑the‑dark merchandise and tote bags for the first 50 participants.
The university’s official calendar listed University Health Services as the sponsor, while the event page credited Healthy Cats and Students Against Violence for organizing the fourth annual edition. A resource fair was scheduled before the 90‑minute panel, featuring the Hays‑Caldwell Women’s Center, Texas Wears Condoms, the Hays County Health Department, the Texas State Counseling Center, and the Student Health Center.
Republican Precinct Chair Calls for Transparency
Hood County Republican Party precinct chair Kolton G. Krottinger praised the legitimate role of colleges in providing health information but raised concerns about the event’s branding, giveaways, and use of public resources. “Texas State is a taxpayer‑supported public university, and Texans deserve to know exactly why university resources are being used to promote events like ‘Sex in the Dark,’” Krottinger told The Dallas Express.
He asked the university to disclose who authorized the program, the total cost, and the source of funding for merchandise, tote bags, staffing, and other expenses. “Parents and taxpayers have every right to ask whether this is what they expect from a public university in Texas,” he added.
University’s Funding Details Remain Unclear
Texas State’s fiscal policy for University Health Services identifies Clinical Services and the Medical Service Fee as primary accounts, but it does not specify a line item for “Sex in the Dark.” The university’s 2025 Annual Security and Fire Safety report lists the program among orientation and year‑round offerings, attributing it to Healthy Cats, Students Against Violence, and Health Promotion Services. However, the report does not reveal whether state appropriations or other taxpayer dollars directly covered the event’s costs.
The Dallas Express obtained an email sent to students that promoted the program: “Join Health Promotion Services tonight at 6:30 p.m. for our fourth annual ‘Sex in the Dark’ anonymous Q&A.” The university’s Health Promotion Services office states its mission includes education on sexual health, violence prevention, mental health, and substance use, offering presentations, outreach, and special events.
No Comment From the University
Attempts to contact Texas State University for comment were unanswered at the time of publication. The lack of a public accounting for the program’s expenses has prompted local Republicans to demand greater transparency and accountability for the use of taxpayer‑funded resources.
While the university argues that the event provides a safe venue for students to discuss sexual health and relationships, critics argue that the provocative branding and free giveaways may not align with the expectations of Texas taxpayers and parents seeking straightforward, fiscally responsible health education.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
