A pride-themed display with “transgender” colors inside a UT Dallas Student Affairs area drew questions about SB17 compliance after a photo circulated online | Image via Libs of TikTok/X
A pride-themed display inside a University of Texas at Dallas Student Affairs area has drawn criticism online and raised questions about the public university’s compliance with Texas’ ban on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offices and related practices.
The issue gained attention after Libs of TikTok posted a June 29 photo that appears to show a large wall display with rainbow stripes, “transgender” colors, and an intersex symbol. The display includes a UT Dallas Student Affairs logo and the words “You Belong Here.” Signs on both sides of the display read “SSA 12.471.”
“Welcome to @UT_Dallas. This is what greets you at the student services building,” Libs of TikTok wrote. “Is this a violation of SB17 @GregAbbott_TX??”
State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-District 10) criticized state lawmakers after the post circulated, arguing that Texas law still leaves room for DEI-related activity in higher education.
Harrison wrote that it was a “MYTH” that Texas “banned DEI and transgender indoctrination.”
“FACT: TxLege explicitly authorized DEI in public university academics and heavily funded transgender indoctrination,” Harrison wrote.
“All my bills to end taxpayer funded DEI/trans indoctrination were blocked by ‘Republican’ leadership,” he added.
SB17 compliance questions
Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB17 in 2023. The law took effect January 1, 2024, and restricts DEI offices, employees, required DEI statements, DEI training, and certain DEI-related programs at Texas public colleges and universities.
The UT System’s SB17 compliance page says the law prohibits DEI offices and programs, activities, and trainings “traditionally conducted by those offices.”
The law also includes exceptions, including for academic course instruction, scholarly research, student organizations, guest speakers, data collection, and student recruitment or admissions.
The current controversy does not establish that UT Dallas violated SB17. The question is whether the display reflects a permitted campus message, a student-related activity, or a university-backed program or practice covered by the state’s DEI restrictions.
UT Dallas did not respond
The Dallas Express asked UT Dallas whether the display complies with SB17, whether it remains in place, whether any university program funded, installed, or maintains the display, and whether the university plans to remove or revise it.
UT Dallas did not respond before publication.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, UT Dallas announced in April 2024 that it would eliminate approximately 20 positions after SB17 took effect. UT Dallas President Richard Benson said at the time that the university had made organizational changes to comply with the law and continued to evaluate how to realign affected programs.
Without a university response, the source, funding, approval process, and current status of the display remain unclear.