Federal judge blocks Texas law targeting LGBTQ+ student clubs

A federal court has temporarily halted enforcement of a Texas law that sought to bar LGBTQ+-affirming student organizations from public schools, marking a significant victory for student rights and LGBTQ+ advocates.

U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge of the Southern District of Texas issued an injunction preventing the Houston, Plano, and Katy Independent School Districts from enforcing Senate Bill 12 (S.B. 12), widely regarded as the first state law in the country to explicitly target LGBTQ+ student clubs.

The measure, passed by the Republican-controlled legislature last year and described by out state Rep. Erin Zwiener (D) as “one of the most nakedly hateful bills we have had on the floor of this House,” was promoted by supporters as a “parental rights” initiative. Backers claimed that LGBTQ+-supportive groups “sexualize” children, LGBTQ+ Nation reports.

“We’re not going to allow gay clubs, and we’re not going to allow straight clubs,” said state Rep. Jeff Leach (R) during debate. “We shouldn’t be sexualizing our kids in public schools, period. And we shouldn’t have clubs based on sex.”

Beyond restricting student clubs, S.B. 12 curtails diversity efforts in schools and mandates increased parental notification on some student health issues. It also forbids teachers from using transgender students’ affirmed first names, even when parents endorse their child’s transition. In practice, some districts have deadnamed students, while others have responded by addressing trans students only by their last names.

The lawsuit challenging the law was brought by the ACLU of Texas, the Transgender Law Center, and law firm Baker McKenzie on behalf of the Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the Genders & Sexualities Alliance (GSA) Network, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), a teacher, and two students. The plaintiffs argue that S.B. 12 “censors huge swaths of constitutionally protected speech” and violates federal guarantees of equal access.

“This win is bigger than me,” said plaintiff Adrian Moore, a student in Katy ISD. “It’s a win for all trans students, and students from all backgrounds in my district. Schools should be places where all students feel safe and supported. I hope this lawsuit sends the message that when the LGBTQIA+ community and our allies work in solidarity, we can make a difference.”

Moore’s parent, Julie Johnson, called the ruling “evidence that justice can sometimes prevail, that speaking up matters, and that it can have a positive impact in the broader community.”

“In a world that feels like basic human dignity is no longer a given right, it means something to my child that their voice was heard,” Johnson said. “In the weeks to come, Adrian will have a name at school. He will no longer be referred to by only his last name, while other students are referred to on a first-name basis. I will see my child’s name listed on programs and playbills at school events. My child will be seen and recognized as the worthy human being he is.”

Leaders of the GSA Network, co-executive directors J. Gia Loving and Maya LaFlamme, said the decision “strengthens Texan trans, queer and Two Spirit youth’s right to gather, build connection and safely exist in their schools.”

“GSAs enable students with the skills to build confidence through leadership roles, create spaces of belonging for their peers, and advocate for justice,” they said. “While this is one battle won, our efforts to protect students’ right to safe, inclusive learning spaces and communities will continue. Today and every day, GSAs are here to stay.”

SEAT executive director Cameron Samuels also welcomed the injunction. “Today’s ruling reminds us that queer and trans students’ resilience and joy are here to stay,” Samuels said. “We won’t stop fighting until all Texas students are guaranteed safe and welcoming school environments.”

The decision rests in part on the federal Equal Access Act, which requires public secondary schools that receive federal funds to provide equal access to extracurricular clubs. Though enacted in 1984 amid concerns from Christian conservatives that Bible clubs might be excluded from campuses, the law has since become a key legal shield for GSAs seeking recognition and resources in schools.

GSAs—formerly known largely as Gay-Straight Alliances and now often called Gender-Sexuality Alliances—have faced sustained conservative opposition since their emergence in the 1980s. In one notable case in the late 1990s, the Salt Lake City school board attempted to abolish all extracurricular clubs rather than allow a GSA to operate. A federal court later found the district had violated the Equal Access Act and students’ First Amendment rights, leading to the GSA’s reinstatement.

Judge Eskridge’s ruling is a preliminary measure while litigation continues, but advocates say it sends a strong signal that efforts to single out LGBTQ+ students and suppress their ability to organize face serious constitutional hurdles.