We finally did it.

The Katy Independent School District disbanded its LGBTQ+ internet filter in high schools last week after a complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas (ACLU of Texas) and Lambda Legal.

After years of denied access to vital resources and affirming content for queer youth, including anti-bullying and suicide prevention resources like the Trevor Project, students at the district's nine high schools can now visit websites previously blocked by a discriminatory "Human Sexuality" filter.

The complaint was filed in April on behalf of Cameron Samuels, then a Seven Lakes High School senior.

Samuels, who uses gender-neutral pronouns, was denied access since their freshman year to websites prohibited by the district. After filing formal requests to revise the discriminatory policy targeting websties describing LGBTQ+ identities, the ACLU and Lambda Legal filed a formal complaint.

After two grievance hearings were held, Katy ISD agreed to remove the “Human Sexuality” filter at the high school level and to create a process for students and parents to request to unblock sites individually at the elementary and middle school levels.

"This discriminatory internet filter erases our queer identities and demonstrates the refusal that many school districts – and the state of Texas – have in affirming our most marginalized and vulnerable students," Samuels said. "I am pleased to see critical, life-saving websites become available to many students in Katy ISD, but I am disheartened that younger, possibly more vulnerable students may still have to out their queer identity in requesting access to resources that could save their life. It's gravely irresponsible to uphold policies like this.”

“Katy ISD’s decision was a step in the right direction – all students should have access to resources that affirm who they are and who they can be, rather than erasing their existence,” said Shelly L. Skeen, senior attorney for Lambda Legal.

The following sites are now accessible in Katy ISD high schools:

• outyouth.org
• timeoutyouth.org
• gsanetwork.org
• truecolorsunited.org
• glaad.org
• txgsa.org
• biresource.org
• dallasvoice.com
• equalitytexas.org
• lamdalegal.org
• lgbtcenters.org
• lgbtmap.org
• outsmartmagazine.com
• pridehouston.org
• trevorproject.org
• glsen.org
• pflag.org
• hrc.org
• montrosecenter.org
• + others

If you would like more information or to schedule an interview with Samuels, Skeen, or Brian Klosterboer, staff attorney for the ACLU of Texas, please contact media@aclutx.org.

Thank you for your support.