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Parade throws are tossed from the Bridge Property Management float during the Dallas Pride Parade at Fair Park on Sunday, June 15, 2025.<\/p>\n
Smiley N. Pool\/Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton<\/a> is suing the city of Denton to block plans for gender-neutral changing rooms at a gay Pride swim party.<\/p>\n Two nonprofits, Pridenton<\/a> and OUTReach Denton, are hosting the \u201cBig Gay Swim Day\u201d June 7 at the city-owned Quakertown Civic Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n In a statement, the city said it notified the groups that the event\u2019s advertising conflicted with a new state law that restricts which bathrooms people can use in schools and government facilities. The city said it plans to notify Paxton\u2019s office that it has already addressed the issue.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The groups said in a joint statement Thursday they have changed plans and removed language about the changing rooms on social media.<\/p>\n \u201cThis frivolous lawsuit is a waste of taxpayers\u2019 time and money,\u201d they said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Paxton\u2019s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Dallas Morning News.<\/p>\n In the lawsuit filed last week in Denton County<\/a>, Paxton\u00a0accused city officials of failing to address the issue after a resident notified them last month of the gender-neutral changing rooms.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cThat dereliction of duty will not stand,\u201d\u00a0Paxton, a Republican,\u00a0said in a statement, \u201cand I will ensure that Texas cities follow our state\u2019s laws to protect women and children from men invading their spaces.\u201d<\/p>\n Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and U.S. Senate candidate, applauds supporters as he takes the stage during a primary runoff election night watch party in Plano, Tuesday, May 26, 2026.<\/p>\n Smiley N. Pool\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Texas lawmakers last year passed a \u201cbathroom bill\u201d<\/a> that prohibits transgender people from using a bathroom or locker room that does not align with their sex at birth in schools and government offices. Any government agency or public institution that violates the policy will be fined $25,000 for the first offense and $125,000 for a second. It is the most punitive bathroom law in the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related: How the battle over Texas’ bathroom bills evolved over a decade<\/a><\/p>\n Known as the Texas Women\u2019s Privacy Act<\/a>, the law tasked Paxton\u2019s office with investigating complaints. Late last year, Paxton launched a tip line<\/a> for people to detail evidence of suspected violations.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Supporters said the law was needed to protect the privacy and safety of women and girls. Opponents have repeatedly pointed to studies that found no evidence that transgender people pose a safety risk in bathrooms or locker rooms.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lawmakers in Texas have passed a slate of laws restricting transgender rights. In recent years, Texas banned gender-affirming medical care<\/a> for transgender youth, prohibited transgender athletes from competing on sports teams that do not align with their birth sex and barred student clubs based on gender identity.<\/p>\n The University of North Texas<\/a> dropped its sponsorship of Pride events in Denton, citing a new state law that prohibits programming related to race, gender or sexual orientation.<\/p>\n Organizers said \u201cBig Gay Swim Day\u201d has since 2022 invited community members to \u201cswim, dance and exist without fear of judgment or harassment.”<\/p>\n \u201cIt is disappointing that bad actors have attempted to turn queer joy into political spectacle\u201d their statement said.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate against state Rep. James Talarico<\/a>, a Democrat, has announced a flurry of lawsuits and investigations that align with the Trump administration. In recent months, Paxton has targeted H-1B visas and demanded proof that school districts in Dallas-Fort Worth are displaying the Ten Commandments.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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