A Travis County judge ruled Tuesday that the Transgender Education Network of Texas, known as TENT, can proceed with its legal effort to find out who is behind a campaign of text messages and mailers sent ahead of the midterm elections. The messages purport to represent transgender students.
Attorney Mimi Marziani, representing TENT, said the group's logo and branding were used without its permission. She said the material is meant to give voters the false impression that TENT was trying to bypass parents and help young people access gender-affirming care. Chris Hilton, the attorney for the Texas Transgender Student Union, which sent the materials, said the messaging is protected speech under the First Amendment and does not violate civil or criminal law. Hilton said he intends to appeal the ruling.
The Texas Transgender Student Union was created in September and is registered as an LLC in Wyoming. State Rep. Jeff Leach has called for an attorney general's investigation. Sarah Stogner, a district attorney in West Texas, said she is investigating the mailers as possible fraud. TENT said it did not send the materials and has posted a notice on its website saying it did not author or approve them.