Drag Queen Brigitte Bandit performs during a Fight The Trump Takeover Rally at the south side steps of the Capitol on Aug. 16, 2025.

Texas’ drag show ban takes effect after years of court challenges

A federal court cleared the way for Senate Bill 12, which prohibits drag performances on public property or in front of children, to take effect Wednesday.

by Alex Nguyen, The Texas Tribune March 19, 2026March 19, 2026

A federal court cleared the way for Senate Bill 12, which prohibits drag performances on public property or in front of children, to take effect Wednesday.

Ed Diaz of San Antonio is one of the parents featured in the new documentary The Dads.

Movies

San Antonio father fights for his transgender daughter in the documentary The Dads

The Dads, which premiered at SXSW, looks at families as they maneuver a political system that’s making it hard for kids to live openly and safely as themselves.

by Kiko Martinez March 16, 2026March 16, 2026

People hold signs in front of the Texas Capitol during a protest for transgender kids' rights on Mar. 1, 2022.

Texas News

Paxton targets Austin ISD in what appears to be Texas’ first enforcement of ‘bathroom bill’

The complaint was filed via a Texas state tip line alleging an Austin High School student used a bathroom not aligned with their sex at birth, according to the attorney general.

by Acacia Coronado, Austin CurrentMarch 8, 2026March 8, 2026

Drag Queen Brigitte Bandit performs during a Fight The Trump Takeover Rally at the south side steps of the Capitol on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025.

Texas News

Appeals court clears way for Texas drag ban to take effect in March

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday reaffirmed a November ruling removing a block on Senate Bill 12 and denied a request by plaintiffs for a rehearing.

by Alex Nguyen, The Texas Tribune February 26, 2026February 26, 2026

Julia Roubtsova Hewitt, a suicide prevention leader with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, at Crockett Park in San Antonio on Monday, January 19, 2026.

Texas News

Removal of LGBTQ+ option from 988 hotline is straining overburdened Texas crisis centers

The groups that operate Texas’ 988 system face a convergence of challenges this year, from expiring federal money to heavier workloads since the Trump administration eliminated the special option for LGBTQ youth.

by Stephen Simpson, The Texas Tribune January 23, 2026January 23, 2026

San Antonio News

Alamo Heights ISD cancels visit by kids’ author over book’s mention of LGBTQ+ people

The cancelation is just the latest disruption prompted by Republican-backed Texas Senate Bill 12.

by Michael Karlis January 20, 2026January 22, 2026

Gov. Greg Abbott at one of his many appearances trying to sell Texans on school vouchers.

Texas News

Texas taxpayers will fund dozens of private schools that openly discriminate

The state has signed off on voucher funds for schools that exclude non-Christian and LGBTQ+ kids.

by Josephine Lee, The Texas Observer January 13, 2026January 13, 2026

Removal of San Antonio's rainbow crosswalk is set to begin Monday.

San Antonio News

Judge approves removal of San Antonio’s rainbow crosswalk

Pride San Antonio and the Conservative Liberty Forum sued to stop the removal and to prevent the city from installing rainbow sidewalks.

by Sanford Nowlin January 10, 2026January 10, 2026

San Antonio News

Lawsuit delays San Antonio’s plan to install rainbow sidewalks in Pride district

The suit, filed by Pride San Antonio and a right-wing group that backs anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, demands that plans for the sidewalk be ‘deliberated in a public forum.’

by Sanford Nowlin and Stephanie Koithan January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton smirks from the stage at the 2024 AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona.

Assclown Alert

Assclown of the Year 2025: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

Was there ever any question?

by Sanford Nowlin January 6, 2026January 6, 2026

SB 8 represents — after years of failed attempts — Republicans’ successful passage of a so-called "bathroom bill."

Bad Takes

The Legislature’s ‘bathroom bill’ isn’t about privacy but humiliating trans Texans

Texas Republicans have made every effort to demonize and punish transgender people for cheap political points.

by Kevin Sanchez December 23, 2025December 24, 2025

Competing demonstrations take place outside the U.S. Supreme Court as it hears a case on gender-affirming care for transgender children in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 4, 2024.

Texas News

Waco judge who refused to marry same-sex couples asks federal courts to overturn right to gay marriage

Judge Dianne Hensley, who has been fighting the state judicial oversight body since 2019, is hoping to tee up a new challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.

by Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune December 20, 2025December 20, 2025

Senate Bill 8 forces transgender and gender non-conforming people to use the bathroom that matches the sex they were assigned at birth.

Texas News

Assclown Alert: Parading out the potty police with the Texas Legislature

Texas’ Bathroom Bill is a thinly veiled attempt to score culture-war points at the expense of some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.

by Sanford Nowlin December 17, 2025December 19, 2025

Texas Department of Public Safety officers guard the women’s bathroom and ask some individuals to show ID to enter at the Capitol in Austin on Dec. 6, 2025. Members of 6W Project protested the newly enacted Senate Bill 8 “bathroom bill” by checking what the enforcement measures to enter the bathroom would be at the Capitol. SB 8, also known as the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, is aimed at restricting transgender people’s access to certain restrooms in the state, and went into effect on Dec. 4, 2025.

Texas News

Enforcement of Texas’ ‘bathroom bill’ draws challenges as colleges, cities implement new policies

In its first week, one group’s test of the new restrictions was met with ID checks at women’s restrooms at the Capitol while the Austin City Council moved to circumvent the law’s intent.

by Ayden Runnels December 15, 2025December 15, 2025

Attendees at a Turning Point USA rally in Lubbock on Oct. 7, 2025. Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday a plan to open more chapters of the conservative youth organization in Texas high schools.

Texas News

Gov. Greg Abbott launches plan to open Turning Point USA chapters in all Texas high schools

Republican officials in Oklahoma and Florida have also launched plans to expand the presence of the conservative youth organization founded by Charlie Kirk.

by Jaden Edison, The Texas Tribune December 8, 2025December 8, 2025

Over 300 activists and supporters rallied at Bexar County Courthouse on March 29, 2025 before marching to Crockett Park for San Antonio's third annual celebration of Transgender Day of Visibility.

Texas News

How Texas’ law banning DEI, LGBTQ+ topics in K-12 schools could fare in court

Cases challenging Florida and federal policies provide a glimpse into the possible outcome for the Texas case. It is scheduled for a court hearing in Houston on Dec. 10.

By Lindsey Byman, The Texas TribuneDecember 2, 2025December 2, 2025

Simon Shepherd, 22, poses for a portrait at Bear Creek Park in Keller on Nov. 12, 2025. Shepherd, a transgender resident from North Texas, testified before the State Affairs Committee hearing regarding Senate Bill 8, known as the "bathroom bill.” Transgender Texans are bracing for a new wave of public scrutiny as the bill is set to go into effect in December.

Texas News

Days before Texas’ ‘bathroom bill’ becomes law, questions remain about how it will be enforced

Some trans Texans worry that the lack of specificity on how the law will be enforced will harm their safety and lives.

by Ayden Runnels December 1, 2025December 1, 2025

Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath met earlier this month with a top official of Turning Point USA to discuss creating new chapters of the organization in every Texas high school. It is unclear whether they formally agreed on a partnership.

Texas News

Texas education chief met with Turning Point USA to discuss group’s expansion in high schools

The meeting happened days before Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pledged $1 million to help establish chapters of the conservative student group on every Texas college and high school campus.

by Jaden Edison, The Texas Tribune November 25, 2025November 25, 2025

Demonstrators protest against a bill to ban gender affirming care for children in Texas on May 2,2023, at the state Capitol.

Texas News

LGBTQ+ Texans fought to be recognized. That work is eroding under a conservative pressure campaign.

Conservative activists argue they’re protecting women and rebalancing the law that Democrats tilted in favor of LGBTQ+ people.

by Carlos Nogueras Ramos, The Texas Tribune November 17, 2025November 17, 2025

One in five San Antonio-area LGBTQ+ individuals report experiencing homelessness before the age of 25.

San Antonio News

Homelessness among San Antonio LGBTQ+ residents on the rise, new study shows

LGBTQ+ youth have been especially hard hit, according to the data.

by Sanford Nowlin November 3, 2025November 3, 2025

Best of San Antonio Nominations are Now Live

LGBTQ rights

Texas’ drag show ban takes effect after years of court challenges

San Antonio father fights for his transgender daughter in the documentary The Dads

Paxton targets Austin ISD in what appears to be Texas’ first enforcement of ‘bathroom bill’

Appeals court clears way for Texas drag ban to take effect in March

Removal of LGBTQ+ option from 988 hotline is straining overburdened Texas crisis centers

Alamo Heights ISD cancels visit by kids’ author over book’s mention of LGBTQ+ people

Texas taxpayers will fund dozens of private schools that openly discriminate

Judge approves removal of San Antonio’s rainbow crosswalk

Lawsuit delays San Antonio’s plan to install rainbow sidewalks in Pride district

Assclown of the Year 2025: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

The Legislature’s ‘bathroom bill’ isn’t about privacy but humiliating trans Texans

Waco judge who refused to marry same-sex couples asks federal courts to overturn right to gay marriage

Assclown Alert: Parading out the potty police with the Texas Legislature

Enforcement of Texas’ ‘bathroom bill’ draws challenges as colleges, cities implement new policies

Gov. Greg Abbott launches plan to open Turning Point USA chapters in all Texas high schools

How Texas’ law banning DEI, LGBTQ+ topics in K-12 schools could fare in court

Days before Texas’ ‘bathroom bill’ becomes law, questions remain about how it will be enforced

Texas education chief met with Turning Point USA to discuss group’s expansion in high schools

LGBTQ+ Texans fought to be recognized. That work is eroding under a conservative pressure campaign.

Homelessness among San Antonio LGBTQ+ residents on the rise, new study shows