Attorney General Ken Paxton suing metropolis of Denton over gender-neutral altering rooms being allowed at Pride occasion

Attorney General Ken Paxton says he is suing the town of Denton over gender-neutral altering rooms being obtainable at a June Pride occasion at one of many metropolis’s public swimming pools.

The June 7 occasion, referred to as “Big Gay Swim Day,” was organized by two nonprofit teams – PRIDENTON and OUTreach Denton, and is ready to be held on the Quakertown Civic Center.

The metropolis owns the middle, which has a public-access swimming pool and sex-specific multiple-occupancy altering rooms. The occasion is marketed as open to most people of all ages, and organizers have introduced that gender-neutral altering rooms might be obtainable on-site.

Paxton mentioned that by having gender-neutral loos, the occasion is in violation of Senate Bill 8.  

The invoice, also referred to 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 premise of organic intercourse. The regulation applies to restrooms, locker rooms, and different altering services in public colleges, universities, prisons, jails, and government-owned buildings.

The solely exceptions are for kids beneath 10 accompanied by an grownup, in addition to custodians, regulation enforcement, and medical staff.

Paxton mentioned {that a} written discover of the deliberate violation was despatched to the town of Denton on May 19, and the town “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 mentioned in a press release. “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, establishments face penalties that embrace $5,000 for a primary offense and as much as $125,000 for subsequent violations.

Paxton’s lawsuit seeks to cease the “Big Gay Swim Day” occasion and requests momentary and everlasting injunctive aid barring the town from violating the regulation sooner or later. 

City plans to reply to Paxton regarding lawsuit

CBS News Texas reached out to the town for remark, and metropolis officers mentioned earlier than any motion by Paxton, employees took “all necessary measures to ensure full compliance with state law in advance of PRIDENTON’s rental of the Civic Center Pool on June 7, including informing the organizers that certain elements of their advertising conflicted with state law and advising them of the requirement to comply.” 

The metropolis assured that the upcoming rental is “private” and never sponsored by the town. 

The metropolis additionally mentioned it “intends to respond to the Texas Office of the Attorney General to reaffirm that the appropriate steps have been taken to ensure the changing rooms at the Civic Center Pool comply with state law.” 

Organizers slam lawsuit

In a joint assertion shared by way of Facebook Monday afternoon, PRIDENTON and OUTreach Denton mentioned they had been disturbed saying partially “This frivolous lawsuit is a waster of taxpayers’ time and money.”

The teams mentioned the town instructed them on May 21 that all-gender loos at metropolis services weren’t allowed, and that the teams eliminated the language from all posts and commercials about it.

“SB 8 lacks guidance regarding its enforcement while assigning severe penalties for perceived violations. Furthermore, this legislation gives license to harass and serveil any person who does not present or conform within the narrow limitations of an oppressive gender binary,” the teams’ assertion reads. “Ken Paxton’s history of protecting predators instead of prioritizing the safety of children is well-documented and does not align with this lawsuit’s alleged motivation.”

PRIDENTON and OUTreach Denton additionally mentioned Big Gay Swim Day has been held since 2022 and has provided a spot for group members to “swim, dance, and exist without fear of judgement or harassment”.