Understanding the Impact of Anti-DEI Bills on LGBTQ Clubs in Schools
They gathered every other Wednesday afternoon in the English teacher’s cozy classroom. They shared homemade cupcakes covered in rainbow sprinkles. They decorated pumpkins for Halloween, planned potlucks, talked politics — both of the national and high school variety.
These are 16-year-old Willow Biasi’s memories from Sherman High School’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance, the type of club an anti-DEI bill approved by the Texas Legislature appears to target.
“We do not need to have school-sponsored and school-sanctioned sex clubs, period,” Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Allen, said as he pushed for the bill’s passage.
That’s not what GSA is, the Biasi family says.
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“It was literally a space for those who couldn’t come out at home or those who just enjoyed being around fellow queer people,” Willow said. “It was mostly just supposed to be a safe, welcoming, calm space.”
Senate Bill 12 will bar schools from sponsoring a “student club based on sexual orientation or gender identity.” It also forbids schools from providing instruction, guidance or programming on sexual orientation or gender identity.
School leaders are still figuring out the impact of the legislation on their schools and expect to know more by the time classes resume in the fall. Dallas ISD spokeswoman Nina Lakhiani said she doesn’t have an exact count of such clubs in the district.
Sherman ISD spokeswoman Meghan Cone said the district needs more time to review the legislation and seek guidance from lawyers before commenting on the future of the high school’s GSA.
Concerns and Uncertainty
But the Biasis are nervous. The whole family has embraced the club and its mission, with Willow’s mom, Jamie, making themed treats for every meeting.
They’re wondering if the school will just need to change the club’s name — or whether the family will need to turn to allies in the community to host the meetings next year.
“These kids really need somewhere to go,” said Jamie Biasi, who worries off-campus meetings would make joining more complicated for kids who haven’t come out to their family members.
After President Donald Trump’s election, the kids in Sherman’s GSA wondered if this outcome was a possibility. They’re keenly aware of the way some conservative politicians have focused on limiting rights for transgender students in their home state and across the country.
Some North Texas school boards have removed books from campus libraries that feature LGBTQ characters. They’ve sought to dictate which bathrooms transgender students can use. They’ve instituted rules around name changes and pronoun usage.
The Sherman school district was at the center of a national controversy last year after officials tried to kick a transgender student out of a leading role in the high school musical because they didn’t want him to play a male character.
Willow said some people at the high school deadname and misgender kids in class.
A Place for LGBTQ Students
For almost two hours inside the Texas Capitol, Democratic lawmakers tried to convince their Republican colleagues to walk back the bill.
Rep. Rafael Anchía, D-Dallas, slammed Leach for his comments.
“Why would you say ‘sex club’ like it was some perverted place in Amsterdam?” he said.
“These clubs are no more about sex than 4H or ROTC or the basketball team or anything else that goes on in a high school campus.”
Anchía’s daughter was a leader in her school’s pride club, he said.
“They would get together, and they’d watch movies, they’d color, they’d go to musicals. It was about a kid who felt weird, who found her people, and everything about it was good,” he said.
Leach later apologized for what he called a “word blunder.” Still, he championed his bill’s broader mission.
A Visible Presence on Campus
Club leaders know not every LGBTQ student is going to show up to their meetings. Still, they say it’s essential to have a visible presence on campus.
“Seeing our posters in the hallway — seeing the rainbows, pride flags, whatever on our posters — just knowing that a club like that exists at your school can help you feel a lot more safe,” said Jarred Burton, a recent graduate of Katy ISD.
Burton said the group talked politics and queer history. But they also did silly activities like musical chairs. They’d hold debates over topics like, is a hot dog a sandwich?
During serious times, like after the election, the club approached it head-on. Painfully aware of the increased risk of suicide among LGBTQ kids, students wrote letters to their future selves.
“They want to stay, so they can read that letter eventually,” Burton said. “Hopefully things won’t be as bad as they would have feared.”
The kids called the activity, “Existence is resistance.”
Conclusion
In Sherman, Willow is worried about the state’s political trajectory and is working to graduate early from high school.
They want out of Texas.
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Senate Bill 12, and how does it affect LGBTQ clubs in schools?
A: Senate Bill 12 bars schools from sponsoring a “student club based on sexual orientation or gender identity” and forbids schools from providing instruction, guidance, or programming on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Q: Why are some lawmakers opposed to LGBTQ clubs in schools?
A: Some lawmakers, like Rep. Jeff Leach, believe that schools should not sponsor clubs based on sexual orientation or gender identity, citing concerns about the role of parents in their children’s education.
Q: What do LGBTQ students and their families think about the bill?
A: Many LGBTQ students and their families are concerned about the bill, which they believe will make it harder for them to find a safe and welcoming space in school. They argue that LGBTQ clubs provide essential support and community for students who may be marginalized or excluded.
Q: What can be done to support LGBTQ students in the face of this legislation?
A: Allies can continue to support LGBTQ students by advocating for their rights, listening to their concerns, and providing a safe and welcoming space for them to express themselves. Community organizations and local businesses can also step in to provide resources and support for LGBTQ students who may be affected by the legislation.
