In a move that underscores the ongoing debate over gender-neutral facilities, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the City of Denton. The legal action aims to block the use of gender-neutral changing rooms at a public swimming pool event organized by local nonprofits PRIDENTON and OUTreach Denton. The event, titled ‘Big Gay Swim Day,’ is scheduled for June 7, 2026, at the Quakertown Civic Center.
Legal Grounds and Event Details
The lawsuit, filed on May 28, 2026, in Denton County District Court, argues that the city’s plan to allow gender-neutral changing spaces violates the Texas Women’s Privacy Act. This law, passed as Senate Bill 8 in the previous legislative session, mandates that all multiple-occupancy private spaces be designated strictly based on biological sex. The law also requires municipal governments to take ‘every reasonable step’ to prevent individuals from entering spaces designated for the opposite sex, limiting unisex options to single-occupancy facilities.
The Quakertown Civic Center, where the event is set to take place, has two multiple-occupancy changing facilities designated by sex. State lawyers contend that event organizers intend to disregard these designations, opening both facilities to individuals of any biological sex. Promotional materials for the event advertised the availability of gender-neutral changing spaces, prompting a local resident to notify city officials and subsequently file a complaint with the Attorney General’s office.
City’s Response and Legal Implications
The City of Denton, along with Mayor Gerard Hudspeth, Interim City Manager Cassey Ogden, and Interim Parks and Recreation Director Allison Wing, are named as defendants in their official capacities. The state is seeking a temporary restraining order, followed by temporary and permanent injunctions, to prevent the city from allowing the changing rooms to be used in a gender-neutral manner during the event and any future gatherings.
Attorney General Paxton emphasized the importance of adhering to state laws designed to protect privacy and safety in communal spaces. ‘Cities cannot disregard Texas law by allowing men to change with young kids in spaces designated for women,’ Paxton stated. The lawsuit also references a history of similar actions by PRIDENTON, including a 2024 event where gendered changing rooms were temporarily converted.
This legal battle highlights the tension between local initiatives aimed at inclusivity and state laws prioritizing traditional privacy norms. As the court proceedings unfold, the outcome could have significant implications for how municipalities across Texas handle similar situations in the future.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
