On September 1, 2025 Texas Senate Bill 12 was put in effect, prohibiting all school sanctioned clubs centered around sexuality and gender identity, and banning clubs like GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) at schools all around Texas.
Early this year, work on bill SB12 began. The bill, nicknamed the “Parental Bill of Rights,” targets parents’ rights in education, and public schools requirements regarding instruction, diversity, equity and inclusion duties, and social transitioning, and to student clubs at public schools. In other words, the bill bars school-sanctioned organizations revolving around queer students, limits the ability for trans students to socially transition in school, and targets DEI.
In the past, McCallum was home to a queer-focused club, Pride Club. It was a space for queer kids to learn about their community, and to form one within Mac.
“I’ve seen them create a sense of community and positivity where they wouldn’t be otherwise,” said junior and former GSA member Cruz Hilgemann. “You don’t feel alone. High school can be really overwhelming, everything is new. GSA gave a sense of community where it’s just gay kids hanging out.”
Hilgemann wasn’t the only one who felt this community within the Pride Club, and that made the abrupt ending of the club hit even harder.
“I was so disappointed, and really angry,” Hilgeman said.. “I know for a fact it’s going to be so harmful to not have these spaces. I’m just wondering how many kids are going to have to hide their identity now that they don’t have a support system.”
Io Zarnikau, another junior and former member of the club, echoed Hilgeman’s statements.
“I heard about SB12, I think I was just looking at things online, and I was pretty mortified,” Zarnikau said. “I was really mad, and was also kind of in denial.”
While also expressing regret on the topic, former Pride Club advisor Kelly Wroblewski, has found a bright side to SB12. Wroblewski feels that although it might not be preferred, the bill gives queer students a chance to experience a fight similar to the ones their predecessors went through. It gives students a push to fight for what they believe, strengthening not only their community but themselves as individuals.
That fight has already seemed to begin, with Io Zarnikau. They might have felt initial shock and disappointment around SB12, but that shock wore off quickly, and an overwhelming urge to remedy the issue replaced it. After sitting in the sadness of the situation, Zarnikau couldn’t help but feel fortunate for their own experiences. They knew they had developed tools to deal with situations like this, and that they had what was most important, a support system. Zarnikau has taken the liberty to start their own club focusing on civic engagement.
“I am in the process of forming a sort of student advocacy group, official name to be announced,” Zarnikau said. “I’m thinking a club during FIT, where anybody, whether gay or straight, can learn to advocate for themselves, write to the government, peacefully protest and organize walkouts.”
When asked for their closing thoughts, Zarnikau gave a final piece of advice to their community.
“I think I just wanna say to any queer person or any other person in a minority that’s going through this; it really sucks. You’re allowed to feel mad, and you’re allowed to feel scared, and you’re allowed to feel like you can’t do anything about it,” they said. “But try and rely on your community, because we will be stronger together.”
The wider effects of SB12 and the dismantling of clubs like the Pride Club are still to be seen, but the students will continue forward together, regardless of the outcome.
