LGBTQIA+ Equality

Photo: A large crowd in colorful clothing gathers under an overpass. Many hold signs that say "Pride is still protest" or "Trans people belong." A few in the foreground hold a large vynl banner that says "ACLU of Texas"

What you need to know

86%

86% of Texas LGBTQIA+ youth surveyed by The Trevor Project in 2022 reported that recent politics negatively impacted their well-being.

2 in 3

The majority of Texans — nearly two in three people (73%) — support laws that protect gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people against discrimination in jobs, public accommodations, and housing. (PRRI, 2020)

120+

Texas lawmakers filed more than 120 bills targeting transgender Texans in 2025.

The ACLU of Texas works to protect, defend, and expand the constitutional and civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) Texans.

Texas is home to the second largest population of LGBTQIA+ people in the country, yet across the state, LGBTQIA+ Texans lack basic protections. Many face discrimination, harassment, bullying, and violence in their daily lives simply for being who they are. This is especially true for the most vulnerable groups like LGBTQIA+ Texans of color, transgender Texans, and LGBTQIA+ youth.

We have worked with hundreds of LGBTQIA+ students and their families to advocate against discrimination in school, and we developed a toolkit with our partners to empower young people to engage in direct advocacy. In 2023, Texas lawmakers proposed over 140 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills, with 7 of those bills passing. And in 2025, Texas lawmakers proposed over 200 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills, with eight of those bills passing.

When the governor tried to target families of transgender youth who need gender-affirming medical care, we blocked these harmful actions by immediately challenging them in court, taking the fight to the steps of our Capitol, and shifting the narrative through extensive media coverage. We also worked with our partners to provide support and information directly to families targeted by these actions. Those lawsuits continue today.

Resources:

State Policies:

The Latest

Know Your Rights
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Trans Rights Hub

The following resources are designed to help trans adults and youth in Texas as well as those who love and support them.
Press Release
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Professors Seek Relief from Texas A&M Censorship Policy That Banned Plato, 'Moonlight,' and Teaching 14th Amendment History

The Board of Regents has restricted teaching of race, gender, and sexual orientation at one of the country’s largest public universities.
Issue Areas: Free Speech and Pluralism, LGBTQIA+ Equality
News & Commentary
Monica Roberts with a loudspeaker and text that says "We are Texas pride"

Storytelling Is Memory and Advocacy: The Legacy of Monica Roberts

Monica Roberts (1962-2020) — our pick for the 2026 ACLU of Texas Heroes of Pride sticker — is remembered as a griot, an auntie, a sister, an advocacy icon, and a beloved friend. It's important to remember the griot who ensured so many other people were remembered too.
Press Release
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ACLU of Texas, Professors Sue Texas A&M System Over Censorship Policy, Detail Violations of Academic Freedom

Faculty have been instructed to remove educational materials — like the film “Moonlight” and writings by Plato — from syllabi following policy banning race, gender, and sexual orientation related topics
Issue Areas: Free Speech and Pluralism, LGBTQIA+ Equality
Legislation
Aug 6, 2021

SB 2: Transgender Sports Ban

Status: In House Committee
Position: Oppose