Attorney General Ken Paxton says he’s suing the city of Denton over gender-neutral changing rooms being available at a June Pride event at one of the city’s public pools.
The June 7 event, called “Big Gay Swim Day,” was organized by two nonprofit groups – PRIDENTON and OUTreach Denton, and is set to be held at the Quakertown Civic Center.
The city owns the center, which has a public-access swimming pool and sex-specific multiple-occupancy changing rooms. The event is advertised as open to the general public of all ages, and organizers have announced that gender-neutral changing rooms will be available on-site.
Paxton said that by having gender-neutral bathrooms, the event is in violation of Senate Bill 8.
The bill, also known as the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, which was signed by Gov. Abbott in September of 2025, mandates that publicly owned “private spaces” be designed on the basis of biological sex. The law applies to restrooms, locker rooms, and other changing facilities in public schools, universities, prisons, jails, and government-owned buildings.
The only exceptions are for children under 10 accompanied by an adult, as well as custodians, law enforcement, and medical workers.
Paxton said that a written notice of the planned violation was sent to the city of Denton on May 19, and the city “failed to take any corrective action.”
“Cities cannot disregard Texas law by allowing men to change with young kids in spaces designated for women,” Paxton said in a statement. “The City of Denton had an opportunity to prevent this violation and chose to do nothing. That dereliction of duty will not stand, and I will ensure that Texas cities follow our state’s laws to protect women and children from men invading their spaces.”
Under SB 8, institutions face penalties that include $5,000 for a first offense and up to $125,000 for subsequent violations.
Paxton’s lawsuit seeks to stop the “Big Gay Swim Day” event and requests temporary and permanent injunctive relief barring the city from violating the law in the future.
CBS News Texas has reached out to the city for comment.