LGBTQ+ Students Say New Texas Anti-DEI Law Leaves Them Without Support
Houston Public Media ^ | August 25, 2025 | Bill Zeeble
Posted on 08/25/2025 4:45:46 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Dubbed a “parent rights” bill, Senate Bill 12 bans DEI programs in K-12 schools — and prohibits clubs LGBTQ+ students say are vital resources.
Twelve-year-old Minerva James just started 7th grade at her North Texas middle school.
She does well and likes her classes. This year, she was thinking about pushing her district to allow a GSA, or Gay-Straight Alliance club — something she says her school could use.
“There’s a lot of, like, homophobia and stuff like that,” she said.
Minerva came out in third grade. At her parents’ request, we’ve changed her name for this story.
But under Senate Bill 12, authored by Republican state Sen. Brandon Creighton of Conroe, all student clubs “based on sexual orientation or gender identity” will be banned statewide after the law goes into effect Sept. 1.
“Now that, like, there’s something to back up the homophobic kids, we don’t have anything that could … actually support us,” Minerva said. “And now that that’s, like, illegal, it’s frustrating.”
Especially because, even before SB12 was signed into law, Minerva said she and friends were already picked on — by both students and teachers — in their conservative school district.
“My friend group, we have a lot of, like, gay kids and no trans kids but lots of gay kids,” she said. “We have very limited resources to actually talk and act like ourselves.”
To supporters of SB12, the measure doesn’t hurt kids. Rather, they say it empowers parents and eliminates Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs and policies.
“Every minute that we spend on woke DEI indoctrination is a minute that we are not teaching a child how to read, or how to do math,” State Board of Education Trustee Julie Pickren, who is from the Houston area, told state senators as she testified in support of the bill earlier this year.
But Madeline, a college freshman who turns 19 this month, disagrees. She’s a trans woman who came out in her not-so-tolerant North Texas high school a few years ago. We’re only using her first name for privacy concerns.
Madeline said the new law rubber-stamps the anti-gay and anti-trans bias she experienced throughout school.
“Whether or not they want to say being trans is a sexual thing, none of us view it that way. We view it as living our true selves,” she said. “And we view it as keeping kids safe when they’re so often rejected by their families for being this way.”
Madeline said she grew up in an accepting, religious home – but she knows many other trans students don’t. Research shows they face a higher risk of depression, anxiety and suicide.
Madeline’s mother, Jennifer, worried about her daughter and is now also concerned about other LGBTQ+ students under SB12. Jennifer used to teach in public schools and was also a GSA advisor.
“I’m no longer in K-12, so I can speak. I couldn’t have even done this interview two years ago,” she said. “The kids had a target on their back. And when they had a GSA club, they could find community with each other even if they had a non-affirming family or non-affirming church.”
Now, Jennifer hopes non-school organizations will create off-campus GSA clubs, where they’re still legal.
Aside from parents and students, schools must now bear the brunt of compliance with SB 12.
The new law also gives parents access to all their student’s curriculum and books — plus, their mental, emotional and physical health records. Parents will also be alerted if their kid asks to go by a nickname or a different pronoun. Teachers who don’t comply can be disciplined.
Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said some of Senate Bill 12 is clear, like prohibiting “assistance with social transitioning.” Other parts can be vague. “Where we’re vague, we are always going to fall back on what we think is best for the student,” she said. And there’s a lot of areas that are really vague.” She says DISD will do its best to comply with the law while still supporting students.
“We want to make sure that all our kids are getting the kind of support from our counselors that they may need,” Elizalde said. While that won’t include likes of Gay-Straight Alliance clubs, students like 7th grader Minerva James say they’ll still support each other, despite SB12.
“We have a single lunch table that fits 10 kids that we have to cram as many kids that need allies and support into,” she said.
TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: chat; dei; education; homosexulagenda; lgbt; ohnoanyway; texas
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Are they saying gay people can't succeed without being given preference?
1 posted on 08/25/2025 4:45:46 PM PDT by nickcarraway
To: nickcarraway
yes
It’s the same old racket.
2 posted on 08/25/2025 4:48:12 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (I pledge allegence to the flag of te USofA & to the Constitutional REPUBLIC for which it stands. )
To: nickcarraway
3 posted on 08/25/2025 4:48:23 PM PDT by Apparatchik (Русские свиньи, идите домой)
To: nickcarraway
What about being supported as students, instead of by sexual orientation?
4 posted on 08/25/2025 4:50:01 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
To: nickcarraway
Would someone please tell these idiot children to shutup.
5 posted on 08/25/2025 4:52:08 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
To: DoughtyOne
BAD ENOUGH I HAVE PAID PROPERTY TAXES SINCE 1966...
I have owned 4 properties-—bought 3—inherited one.
OVERLAPPED TIMES IN OWNERSHIP==
HAVE PAID 89 YEARS WORTH OF PROPERTY TAXES IN 59 YEARS.
I NEVER HAD ANY KIDS....
MY $$$$$$$$ is supporting the crazies in the schools.
THIS LITTLE DARLING CAN CRY ME A RIVER
6 posted on 08/25/2025 4:52:11 PM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
To: nickcarraway
Minerva came out in third grade.
Sure she did...sure she did.
7 posted on 08/25/2025 4:54:57 PM PDT by rottndog (What comes after America?)
To: ridesthemiles
8 posted on 08/25/2025 4:55:46 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (I pledge allegence to the flag of te USofA & to the Constitutional REPUBLIC for which it stands. )
To: nickcarraway
Awwwwwwe. Such “victims”
My heart bleeds
9 posted on 08/25/2025 4:56:43 PM PDT by A_Former_Democrat (Boycott everything Mexican. Vacations, food, restaurants. Regardless of ownership. )
To: rottndog
“””Minerva came out in third grade.
Sure she did...sure she did. “””
As if an eight year old even knows what that means.
10 posted on 08/25/2025 4:57:24 PM PDT
To: nickcarraway
At least one of Minerva’s parents likely has Munchausen by
proxy-they need to lose custody of their kid while getting several months of psychotherapy...
11 posted on 08/25/2025 5:02:38 PM PDT by Texan5 ("You've got to saddle up your boys, you've got to draw a hard line"...)
To: rottndog
No doubt after much indoctrination at school and at home. Child was more than likely pushed and instructed by its “mother” to do the queer angle
12 posted on 08/25/2025 5:04:21 PM PDT by jpp113
To: jpp113
The kid would have never even conceived of the idea if it wasn’t forced on her.
13 posted on 08/25/2025 5:06:52 PM PDT by rottndog (What comes after America?)
To: nickcarraway
They have plenty of support at their nearest psychiatric clinic for mental disorders.
14 posted on 08/25/2025 5:07:15 PM PDT by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
To: Apparatchik
Pssst - they’re not gay.
Ya think? Is this a great country or what? It’s way over the times that we cater to these sicko’s
15 posted on 08/25/2025 5:07:19 PM PDT by Dawgreg
To: nickcarraway
7th grade?
You’re going to take advice and/ orders from a child?
How about:
Shut up
Do your homework
You’ll eat what’s on your plate or go hungry.
Foisting children up as innocent props does not work on anyone anymore.
St Greta of Thunberg crapped that pool long ago.
16 posted on 08/25/2025 5:14:24 PM PDT by Macoozie (Roll MAGA, roll!)
To: nickcarraway
If you enjoy privilege for too long, equality is seen as discrimination
17 posted on 08/25/2025 5:19:37 PM PDT by paudio (MATH: 45<47)
To: nickcarraway
Replying to the article’s general premise:
If you can’t get by without special treatment, maybe everyone else isn’t the problem. Maybe it’s you.
18 posted on 08/25/2025 5:23:12 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
To: ridesthemiles
Yup
30 years, no kids
Plus they convinced the idiots to pay even more, like hundreds of millions
19 posted on 08/25/2025 5:31:24 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
To: nickcarraway
”…Now that, like, there’s something to back up the homophobic kids, we don’t have anything that could … actually support us,” Minerva said. “And now that that’s, like, illegal, it’s frustrating.”
Like, I know right? Like, literally!
20 posted on 08/25/2025 5:33:51 PM PDT by Allegra (Thank you for your attention to this matter. )
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