Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), a student-led movement demonstrating youth visibility in educational policymaking, filed a formal complaint of discrimination on November 13th with the U.S. Department of Education regarding a comprehensive anti-transgender policy passed by the Katy Independent School District's Board of Trustees in August, according to a press release posted on the organization’s website.

The Katy Times reached out to Katy ISD for commentary but, due to the holiday closure of the district offices, a response was not received by press time.

The complaint, delivered to the federal department's Office of Civil Rights, challenges the policy's adverse impact on transgender students, asserting violation of Title IX rights with Gender Identity discrimination and perpetuating harmful sex stereotypes and heteronormative gender roles.

In accordance with the policy, Katy ISD evidently outed at least 19 students to their parents, as reported by a Public Information Request by the independent news organization Houston Landing, said the press release. “This negligent enforcement raises serious concerns about privacy and emotional well-being of transgender students, who should be entitled to a safe and inclusive educational environment equal to that of cisgender peers,” the press release continued.

“We used public knowledge as the basis of the complaint because students must be 18+ or obtain parental consent to submit the complaint form, and because of the sensitive nature of this policy, many transgender students without supportive families have had to remain silent,” said SEAT Executive Director Cameron Samuels in an email to the Katy Times. “We do encourage and support students/parents statewide in filing their own complaints if they experience discrimination, and from our understanding, we are the first but not the only to file a complaint against Katy ISD's anti-transgender policy in some regard.”

Samuels, a graduate of Seven Lakes High School, previously testified before the House Judiciary Committee on the Judiciary for a hearing of the Full Committee on "Book Bans: Examining How Censorship Limits Liberty and Literature" in Washington, D.C., on September 12th.

Katy ISD’s policy, passed at the district's August 28 board meeting, prompted resounding community opposition with many individuals, including many students, expressing disapproval during more than four hours of impassioned public comments. Despite opposition, the board narrowly voted 4-3 shortly before midnight.

"I’ve seen firsthand how this policy has impacted transgender students, such as hostility and tension between students and educators," said Katy ISD sophomore and SEAT organizer Grace Ding. "Creating barriers for students to access support from trusted adults is a setback to progress made over decades."

“SEAT is no stranger to increasing hostility by Katy ISD toward LGBTQ+ students in recent years, including unprecedented book bans and internet censorship,” said the SEAT press release. Amid these challenges, the inaugural Katy Pride brought together over 2,000 attendees at FCC Katy in October, demonstrating the community's commitment to supporting all students, regardless of gender identity. Katy Pride, a nonprofit formed in June 2023, is committed to empowering the LGBTQ+ community in Katy and West Houston by creating inclusive events, advocating for equality, and fostering a supportive community of acceptance and diversity.

Katy Pride President Amanda Rose issued the following statement:

“Katy Pride is founded on the belief that all humans should be valued and celebrated for their authentic selves.  Living into our mission of advocacy, education and community, we stand in solidarity with students, parents and community members who experience discrimination as a result of policies that target LGBTQ+ people.  Katy Pride continues to hear from students, educators and parents who are distressed by the anti-trans policy. We will continue to connect our Katy community members with resources and support to meet their needs. In the new year Katy Pride will continue to be present at school board meetings, host advocacy and education events such as voter registration and informational events and support Katy ISD LGBTQ+ student organizations. As an organization, our mission is to empower the LGBTQ+ community in Katy and West Houston by hosting inclusive events, advocating for equality, and fostering a supportive culture of acceptance and diversity.”



In collaboration with Katy Pride and the ACLU of Texas, SEAT organized a Know Your Rights training for LGBTQ+ students and families in the district in November. The training empowered families with immediate understanding of the policy and direct resources, including SEAT's Student Resource Hub.

SEAT and the Katy community have shown a steadfast commitment to supporting students across all backgrounds and identities, said the SEAT press release. Katy ISD junior Jarred Burton addressed the school board at a November meeting and published an op-ed on Friday in the Houston Chronicle to continue highlighting student experiences. Burton was also interviewed last week by ABC 13 news.

"This policy tries to endanger and erase trans students all under the misleading guise of parental authority and student safety, when it is clearly driven by ignorance and hate," said Burton. "Attempts at mental health awareness mean nothing with policies like this in place attempting to erase queer youth."

In its federal complaint, SEAT seeks a resolution that repeals Katy ISD's policy, provides direct resources to students impacted by the district's enforcement of that policy, establishes professional LGBTQ+ inclusion training for district personnel, and codifies nondiscrimination protections for gender identity.

“We have not received an update yet from the regional Dallas branch of the Office, but we seek a mediation to completely repeal the policy, directly cover costs related to counseling or other support services for students impacted by the policy, establish LGBTQ+ inclusion training for district personnel, and adopt a nondiscrimination statement that protects LGBTQ+ students,” said Samuels in the December 19th email to the Katy Times.

"Educators care deeply about their students. I have seen the amount of love they pour into their jobs and into their classes. Now, Katy ISD is forcing them to out their students and put children into potentially dangerous situations," said Katy ISD senior and SEAT organizer Pooja Kalwani. "By enforcing this discriminatory policy, Katy ISD will be intruding on students’ free expression and privacy. Our lives are not something to manipulate with narrow beliefs, cis or trans."