A coalition of left-wing groups and individuals has filed a lawsuit against the State of Texas over the implementation of the state-wide ban on DEI-related curriculum and gender ideology in K-12 schools.
The lawsuit was filed on August 28, just days before the law took effect on September 1. It was filed in a federal district court in Houston.
The Lawsuit
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas filed a lawsuit against Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath and the Independent School Districts of Houston, Katy, and Plano.
The ACLU announced on its website that it had “teamed up with the Transgender Law Center and private firm Baker McKenzie to challenge the constitutionality of the state’s new anti-DEI law.”
The law (Senate Bill 12), also known as the Parental Bill of Rights, protects children from sexual ideologies and DEI instruction in public schools. It also requires schools to give parents access to all records concerning their children and empowers parents with stronger grievance processes.
State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R–Conroe) authored it, and Gov. Greg Abbott signed it into law on June 20, 2025.
The lawsuit was filed in a federal court, as plaintiffs allege SB 12 “raises federal questions and seeks to vindicate civil rights protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.”
The plaintiffs—represented by the ACLU—include left-wing groups, such as Genders and Sexualities Alliance Network (GSA) and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT).
GSA Network’s website defines the organization’s mission as elevating “trans, queer, and Two-Spirit youth voices by sharing stories, challenging stereotypes, and amplifying the intergenerational lived wisdom of our people.”
While GSA clubs could previously be found throughout the state, the new law bans clubs based on sexual identity.
SEAT is an organization whose mission is to organize youth “to address systemic inequities and drive change in Texas communities.” It previously co-hosted a drag show at the state capitol.
Additional plaintiffs include Rebecca Roe, Ruth Roe, and Polly Poe—all operating under pseudonyms for anonymity.
Roe and Poe are described in the lawsuit as “a student, and an educator [who] speak about issues relating to race, gender identity, and sexual orientation” in Texas schools and beyond. They claim the DEI-ban blocks them from doing this.
Plaintiffs claim that SB 12—which they renamed the “Student Identity Censorship Law”—violates their constitutional rights.
“The First Amendment prohibits laws that target and suppress speech from disfavored viewpoints,” reads the lawsuit. “But the Texas Legislature has done exactly that with Senate Bill 12.”
The lawsuit challenges four allegedly “unconstitutional” provisions of the law:
- Banning all student organizations based on sexual orientation or gender identity
- Prohibiting any reference to race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation in any policy, procedure, training, activity, or program developed or implemented by a school employee, contractor, or volunteer (at, for, or on behalf of a school)
- Barring school employees from assisting any student’s social transition, including by providing any information about this topic
- Preventing all educators and third parties from providing any instruction, guidance, activities, or programming regarding sexual orientation or gender identity to students enrolled in prekindergarten through 12th grade—even outside the school day or in that individual’s private capacity
Plaintiffs are asking the court to stop the enforcement of these four aspects of SB 12 and to declare the provisions unconstitutional. They are also asking the court to award them reasonable costs and attorney fees.
The ACLU has a history of representing left-wing groups and individuals in lawsuits against state legislation they oppose. They are also currently challenging SB 10, which requires the Ten Commandments to be posted in classrooms.
The ACLU, TEAM, Houston ISD, Katy ISD, Plano ISD, Morath, and Creighton did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s request for comment in time for publication.
If you or anyone you know has information regarding court cases, please contact our tip line: scorecardtips@protonmail.com.
No ads. No paywalls. No government grants. No corporate masters.
Just real news for real Texans.
Support Texas Scorecard to keep it that way!
