KATY, Texas – A Katy Independent School District student says the district’s interpretation of a new Texas law means teachers and staff can no longer call him by his chosen name.
Adrian Moore, a senior at Morton Ranch High School, has gone by his chosen name for nearly five years. But this year, due to Senate Bill 12, also known as the parental rights bill, the district has told teachers to use his legal name or last name instead.
“The way my school district has decided to interpret the law entails that teachers, staff, administrators, anyone who works at my school or in the wider school district is not allowed to call me by my chosen name,” Adrian said.
As a queer and transgender student, Adrian says the change feels dehumanizing. He shared that some teachers have told him they fear losing their jobs if they use his chosen name.
“It feels like it takes away my personhood and my connection to that other person, my connection to my teachers, and how well they know me and how much they care about me,” Adrian said.
His mother, Julie Johnson, says the bill does not clearly address students who have already transitioned or whose parents support their chosen names.
“I also did a little bit more research and it’s very clear that there’s nothing in Senate Bill 12 that prevents school districts from calling children by preferred names or preferred pronouns, especially if a parent asks because Section 1.009 says that my rights cannot be infringed upon,” Johnson said.
Johnson has reached out to the district, local senators, and the ACLU but has yet to receive a response. Adrian hopes that will change.
“My hope is that Adrian, my name, will be on my high school diploma. I want that to be the name that is said when I graduate,” he said.
Senate Bill 12 officially goes into effect on Sept. 1.
Katy ISD sent KPRC 2 the following statement:
“The district recognizes that the implementation of some provisions of Senate Bill 12 may create uncertainty for families. As a public school system, the district is required to comply with all laws enacted by the Texas Legislature. Questions about the law itself, or how it may be clarified, are best directed to the elected state legislators who sponsored and passed the legislation.”
Attached is a templated letter the district has made available to campus administrations to assist in communicating with parents about such concerns.