Recently, a substantial number of Texas families received a pamphlet titled “Texas Trans and LGBTQ+ Student Resource Guide.” This guide appears to contain information aimed at trans minors who are considering emancipation from their parents or exploring gender affirmation procedures.
The mailers sparked a significant backlash, filled with both outrage and skepticism, particularly after the organization mentioned in the pamphlet—the Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT)—denied involvement.
TENT dissociated itself from the materials, while indications suggest it might have been part of an election-time operation orchestrated by an external entity. Critics have noted that the messaging in the pamphlet resembles tactics promoted by TENT and similar groups in Texas.
Disavowal
The pamphlet reassures readers that “You are not alone. There are people in Texas who will help you find support.” Following its sections on emancipation, parental support issues, and information regarding hormones and gender-affirming care, it dedicates two pages to TENT and its “Trans Texas Takeover Fall Tour,” an initiative with scheduled events statewide.
Earlier, several phone numbers sent provocative text messages to Texans that also linked to TENT’s website and its “Back to School Toolkit,” as reported by local media.
Some texts reportedly announced, “New school year? Here’s your complete guide on bathrooms and beyond for trans kids at school,” directing recipients to a TENT resource.
This situation led to considerable outcry and prompted an investigation request by Texas state Rep. Jeff Leach (R). He later expanded his request, asking Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to investigate the communications and their origins.
TENT maintains that it had no role in the creation or distribution of the pamphlet or the related text messages. The organization released a statement emphasizing, “These text messages and mailers were not authored, authorized, approved, or distributed by TENT and are not affiliated with our organization.” A lawyer representing TENT suggested that the timing of the pamphlet’s release coinciding with early voting was likely not a coincidence.
Despite TENT’s disavowal, Jonathan Covey, a director for Texas Values, pointed to the need for scrutiny of TENT’s own materials and their implications in undermining parental roles. He emphasized the importance of identifying who orchestrated the mailing and how they acquired family information, stating, “Families deserve answers about where that information came from.”
Origin
Reports from local media outlets have traced the pamphlet back to a recently registered LLC in Wyoming, which adds to the suspicions that this could have been an election-related operation. The return address on the materials lists “Texas Transgender Student Union,” an organization that lacks a noticeable presence within Texas. The address appears fabricated, resembling that of TENT.
Additionally, some investigations found that this so-called organization was only formally established in September as an LLC and is distinct from TENT.
The registered agent for the LLC is a common corporate filing service, and it is linked to an address associated with multiple businesses alleged to be part of scams.
TENT filed a cease-and-desist notice against the Texas Transgender Student Union and the digital messaging companies that distributed the text messages. The campaigns of political figures linked to the investigation have denied involvement with the mailers.
