Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the City of Denton and several city officials over a planned private event at a city-owned swimming pool, arguing that the event could result in violations of the state’s Texas Women’s Privacy Act.

The lawsuit, filed in Denton County district court, seeks to prevent the June 7 event known as “Big Gay Swim Day” from taking place under its current arrangements at the Quakertown Civic Center pool. The event is organized by local nonprofit groups PRIDENTON and OUTreach Denton and is advertised as a community gathering open to attendees of all ages.

At the center of the dispute is the use of changing facilities at the civic center. According to the attorney general’s office, promotional materials for the event referenced the availability of gender-neutral changing rooms. State officials contend that such accommodations would conflict with Texas law governing sex-specific facilities in publicly owned buildings.

The lawsuit names the City of Denton along with Mayor Gerard Hudspeth, Interim City Manager Cassey Ogden, and Interim Parks and Recreation Director Allison Wing in their official capacities. The state argues that city leaders have failed to take adequate steps to ensure compliance with state law.

The legal challenge is based on Senate Bill 8, commonly known as the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, which recently took effect. The law requires multiple-occupancy private spaces in publicly owned facilities, including restrooms, locker rooms, and changing areas, to be designated for use by one sex only. It also places responsibility on governmental entities to take reasonable measures to prevent individuals of the opposite sex from entering those spaces.

Court documents state that the Quakertown Civic Center contains separate multi-occupancy changing rooms designated for men and women. The attorney general’s office argues that advertising gender-neutral changing facilities suggests an intention to allow access regardless of biological sex, which the state believes would violate the statute.

The lawsuit also references a similar event held at the facility in 2024. According to the filing, organizers previously promoted the temporary conversion of gender-specific changing rooms during an earlier gathering. State attorneys additionally point to another upcoming event hosted by PRIDENTON that reportedly advertises plans to convert multi-stall restrooms into all-use facilities.

The legal filing notes that a Denton resident contacted city officials in May to raise concerns about the planned use of the changing rooms. The state alleges that city leaders did not provide assurances that the facilities would remain compliant with state law, prompting the attorney general’s office to seek court intervention.

State officials maintain that municipalities remain responsible for enforcing applicable laws even when public facilities are rented to private organizations. As a result, the lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order, a temporary injunction, and a permanent injunction to prevent what the state characterizes as unlawful use of the facilities and to prohibit similar violations in the future.

In response, PRIDENTON and OUTreach Denton criticized the lawsuit and defended the event. The organizations stated that language referring to all-gender bathrooms had already been removed from promotional materials. They also emphasized their right to reserve public facilities for private events and described Big Gay Swim Day as a longstanding community gathering intended to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment.

The event remains scheduled for June 7 at the Quakertown Civic Center pool while the legal dispute moves forward through the courts.