SB 12
Erasing and censoring LGBTQIA+ topics in schools, with immediate and long-term harms to mental health and safety
What's in the bill?
SB 12 mandates written parental consent for human sexuality instruction, codifies parental rights over moral/religious education, and requires schools to file facility usage reports. While framed as a “parental rights” bill, advocacy groups like Equality Texas warn it perpetuates systemic exclusion of LGBTQ+ youth by empowering censorship and erasure in schools.
What does it mean?
Censorship of LGBTQ+ Topics
Schools will avoid discussing LGBTQ+ identities in classrooms or in extracurricular activities to comply with parental consent requirements, erasing representation. Similar censorship under Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law led to 86% of LGBTQ+ youth reporting anxiety and avoidance of mental health support.
Hostile School Climate
Teachers may fear repercussions for supporting LGBTQ+ students, chilling interventions against bullying. In Texas, students in places like Katy ISD already faced blocked access to LGBTQ+ resources like the Trevor Project.
Erosion of Safe Spaces
Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) and Pride events will be dismantled or restricted under vague “facility usage” reporting rules. Similar laws in Florida saw 30% of LGBTQ+ youth avoid school clubs due to fear of exposure.
Increased Mental Health Crises
The Trevor Project’s 2024 data shows 49% of Texas transgender/nonbinary youth considered suicide, a risk exacerbated by policies that invalidate their identities.
What can we do now?
Public Education
Equality Texas is launching statewide Know Your Rights campaign educating the community about the specifics of this law and its potential impact on the public school system.
Educate Stakeholders
Train teachers and administrators on LGBTQ+ inclusivity and trauma-informed care.
Public Advocacy
Amplify youth voices like Students Engaged in Advancing Texas to counter harmful narratives.
Legislative Advocacy
Equality Texas has already drafted legislation for 2027 legislative session to reverse or mitigate the impact of this legislation if it has not been struck down by the courts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Texas Senate Bill 12?
SB 12 is a broad bill that aims to give parents more control over their children’s public education. The bill bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and programs in K-12 public schools, prohibits classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation, and requires parental consent for students to join school clubs or access mental health services. It also strengthens parents’ rights to access educational records and participate in curriculum decisions.
What will happen to DEI in public schools?
School districts will be prohibited from considering race, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation in hiring or employment decisions. The bill also bans DEI-related training and programs, unless required by federal law. This means schools can no longer use state funds for initiatives that promote diversity or inclusion based on these identities.
What will happen to GSA clubs?
Clubs based on sexual orientation or gender identity will not be allowed in public schools. For any other student club, parents must provide written consent for their child to participate. School employees can only sponsor clubs centered on race or ethnicity in a supervisory capacity and are prohibited from providing certain instruction for those groups.
People keep talking about “parental rights,” what does that mean?
Schools will be required to obtain written parental consent for students to join clubs, to receive certain types of instruction (such as human sexuality), or to access mental health services. It also ensures parents have full access to their child’s educational records and curriculum, and it establishes a grievance process for parents who feel their rights are not being respected.
What does this mean for teachers?
Teachers and staff are prohibited from engaging in or assigning DEI-related tasks. Schools must create policies for disciplining employees who violate these rules. Staff are also limited in how they can support student clubs related to race, ethnicity, or identity.