Texas School District Faces Backlash After Banning Transgender Students from Using Affirming Restrooms

In May 2025, a school district in suburban Texas approved a policy prohibiting transgender students from using bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity, instead requiring them to use facilities that correspond to the sex assigned to them at birth. The policy, introduced at a contentious school board meeting, mirrors a trend seen in 18 states across the country that have enacted similar restrictions in educational settings.

The policy’s adoption came after several months of heated debate, during which parents and students voiced both support and strong opposition. Proponents argued that the measure was necessary for the “privacy and safety” of all students, while opponents, including LGBTQ+ students and advocacy groups, warned that such bans increase the risk of bullying, harassment, and mental health crises among transgender youth.

Immediately following the vote, local LGBTQ+ organizations organized a peaceful protest outside the district’s administration building, drawing hundreds of supporters from the community and surrounding areas. Students, some holding signs reading “Let Us Be Ourselves” and “Trans Rights are Human Rights,” spoke about their experiences facing discrimination and their fears for the future under the new policy.

The demonstration was covered by regional and national media outlets, amplifying voices like that of 16-year-old Avery Martinez, a transgender student in the district: “This policy tells me I don’t belong. It’s humiliating and dangerous to force me into a bathroom that doesn’t match who I am,” Martinez said during the rally.

Local parents and allies launched an online petition calling for the school board to reverse its decision, which quickly garnered thousands of signatures. Civil rights organizations have also pledged legal support for students who may face discrimination as a result of the policy, arguing that it violates federal protections against sex-based discrimination under Title IX.

This local dispute reflects a broader national trend: As of March 2025, more than half of U.S. states have enacted laws restricting transgender students’ rights to participate in sports or access facilities consistent with their gender identity. According to GLAAD’s 2025 Anti-LGBTQ Extremism Reporting Tracker, more than 932 anti-LGBTQ incidents—ranging from protests to acts of violence—occurred across the country over the past year, with over half directly targeting transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming people.

Incidents targeting educators, librarians, and school officials who support LGBTQ+ inclusion have also spiked, with at least 270 documented cases of harassment and threats. These developments contribute to an increasingly hostile climate for LGBTQ+ youth in schools, prompting advocacy groups to expand support resources and legal defense funds for affected students and staff

LGBTQ+ students and allies within the Texas district have continued to organize in response to the policy. Student-led organizations have held forums on mental health and safety, while local LGBTQ+ centers have offered counseling and drop-in spaces for affected youth. National groups such as GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign have sent open letters to the district, emphasizing the importance of affirming policies for student well-being.

“Affirming a student’s gender identity is not only a matter of dignity, but a question of safety and mental health,” said a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign in a statement following the policy’s passage. Multiple studies have shown that inclusive school environments reduce rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide among transgender youth, underscoring the stakes of these local policy battles.

As Pride Month approaches, the district’s controversy has galvanized both local and national movements to defend the rights of LGBTQ+ youth and to resist efforts to curtail inclusion in schools. The outcome of ongoing legal challenges and community advocacy may set important precedents for districts across the country.