The parents of Ana Mota, a female student at South Grand Prairie High School, have sued Grand Prairie ISD and Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo. The suit concerns the district's cancellation of the school's planned performance of "Little Shop of Horrors." The lawsuit alleges the district applied Texas Senate Bill 12, which restricts how districts teach about gender identity, too broadly when it canceled the show.
Mota was set to play Seymour, a role traditionally held by a male actor. She told FOX 4 the district tried to recast her five days after she was awarded the part, and then canceled the musical entirely. The lawsuit alleges the district violated Title IX by excluding her from the role. It also says the cancellation did not resolve that exclusion, that the district offered no equivalent educational opportunity, and that the cast was moved to a different production. Mota said she has played traditionally male roles in past school productions.
In a statement, Grand Prairie ISD said the decision to cancel the play was made in light of the district's ongoing effort to keep its programs consistent with Senate Bill 12 and all applicable law.