“Ken Paxton and his gang of bullies aren’t simply stoking anti-transgender rhetoric, they are hurting children,” said Jay Brown, HRC Communications Director. “They should be ensuring our children’s dignity and ability to learn in a safe environment, not going to court to target transgender students for discrimination and bullying by blocking guidance educators across the country had been asking for. ”

Paxton’s latest discriminatory attack comes just weeks after he filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Texas and 10 other states challenging the Obama Administration’s guidance on transgender students’ rights. Paxton, who currently faces three felony fraud indictments for violating state securities laws, civil fraud charges, and a separate investigation by the Texas State Bar for encouraging clerks to ignore the Supreme Court’s ruling on nationwide marriage equality, has repeatedly attacked LGBTQ people in an effort to score political points.

HRC earlier this year released a letter signed by national organizations representing almost 5 million educators, pediatricians, counselors and other child welfare providers urging lawmakers like Paxton to stop their political attacks on transgender youth. These organizations include the American Federation of Teachers, the American Academy of Pediatrics; the American Counseling Association; the National Association of School Psychologists and the National Education Association.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community.