Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Friday signed the countrys latest Dont Say Gay legislation into law, which would bar discussion of LGBTQ+ identity in classrooms, ban LGBTQ+ student clubs, and prohibit school staff from acknowledging student identities that diverge from the binary, among other restrictive anti-LGBTQ+ measures.In addition to attacking LGBTQ+ identity, the sweeping package of laws that supporters call a Bill of Parental Rightsaddresses a right-wing wish to ban diversity, inclusion, and equity discussion in classrooms, promote vaccine skepticism, and provide opt-out options on everything from health education and data collection to library access and bilingual education. Related Texas Republicans pass bill to ban LGBTQ+ student clubs in schools Its one of five anti-LGBTQ+ bills Texas could pass this year. The bill also prohibits discussion of race in any lesson, policy, procedure, or program, except subjects mandated by the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills test. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today On Monday, the ACLU and a state student organization announced theyre taking Texas to court over the new law, known as Senate Bill 12.S.B.12 aims to punish kids for being who they are and ban teachers from supporting them. It sends the false message that Black, Brown,LGBTQIA+, and other students dont belong in the classroom or in our state, Brian Klosterboer, senior staff attorney at the ACLU ofTexas, said in a statement shared with the Houston Chronicle.Were taking legal action to challenge this discriminatory law and reaffirm that all students should have access to a safe, inclusive education that prepares them for their futures in our diverse state, no exceptions. Under the new law, GSAs, or Gender and Sexuality Alliance clubs, across the state will be shut down due to a provision that school districts are now prohibited from authorizing student clubs based on sexual orientation or gender identity.The law also expands on some Texas school districts forced outing policies aimed at trans and nonbinary students, explicitly prohibiting school staff support for questioning students. School districts without restrictive outing policies will now have to adopt one.Cameron Samuels, executive director of Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, said the law would erase students identities.State leaders have been in the business of manufacturing problems that dont exist such as stoking fear against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to ignore the solutions that students need and deserve, Samuels said in the ACLU release. Barring student organizations and teachers from supporting LGBTQIA+ young people, particularly trans and nonbinary students, is inflicting even more harm and making our schools unsafe and unjust.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.