A transgender advocacy organization has denied any involvement in mailers reportedly sent to Texas households that offer guidance for transgender youth, leaving unanswered questions about who produced and distributed the materials.
The leaflet was shared by multiple social media users who said they or someone they knew received it in the mail. Although the mailer references the Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT), the organization has disavowed the materials, and the identity of those behind the mailing remains unclear.
What The Leaflets Say
The leaflet appears to provide guidance for transgender youth, including advice for those with unsupportive parents, information about legal emancipation, through which a minor can gain certain adult legal rights, and resources on seeking care outside Texas.
The mailer read, in part: “You don't need to have everything figured out.
“You don't have to know whether you're definitely trans.
“You don't have to decide about hormones or surgery right now.
“You don't have to convince your parents.
“Your job right now is to stay safe, find people who will listen to you, and give yourself time to figure out who you are.
“There are other kids in Texas going through this too—and there are adults whose actual job is to help you.
“Even if your family doesn't accept you as you are, groups like these are ready to become your found family.”
Commentator Sara Gonzales, host of the Sara Gonzales Unfiltered podcast, shared a photo of the envelope on X, which identified the sender as the "Texas Transgender Student Union" and listed an address in Meadows Place, Texas. "This was sent to my home. Addressed to the 'students' of our family from the 'Texas Transgender Student Union,'" Gonzales wrote.
With TENT denying any involvement, it remains unclear who produced and distributed the leaflet.
A Concho Observer report estimated the cost of distributing the mailer to every household in the state at between $3 million and $4.4 million, and said TENT lacked the resources to send the mailer statewide. It also noted there was no such group as the “Texas Transgender Student Union.”
TENT Denies Involvement in Mailers
TENT denied being responsible for the fliers in a statement shared on Saturday.
“We have been made aware of physical mailers and brochures currently being distributed with branding similar to our own. TENT did not author, authorize, approve, or distribute these materials. Any and all materials are not affiliated with our organization and are impersonations,” the group said.
“This comes just days after two texts were sent out impersonating our organization. None of the materials mentioned are from our organization.
“These instances will not shake our commitment to the dignity and humanity of trans youth, trans Texans, their families, and their loved ones. Trans Texans belong here in Texas. This is our home, and we’re not going anywhere."
As of Tuesday morning, TENT's website appeared to contain only that statement regarding the mailers.
Newsweek reached out to TENT for comment via social media on Tuesday morning.
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Physical Mailers Follow Mystery Texts
The mailers followed a separate text-message campaign that promoted resources from TENT, which, according to The Texas Tribune, linked to TENT materials covering issues such as school policies and gender-affirming care.
TENT said it did not send the texts, which were sent from multiple phone numbers, and issued cease-and-desist notices to two messaging companies, seeking to halt the campaign and identify the client responsible, the outlet reported.
Texas State Representative Jeff Leach meanwhile asked Attorney General Ken Paxton to investigate the earlier communications, including how recipients' contact information was obtained.
The incidents arrived shortly before early in-person voting was set to begin in the state.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang