Alamo Heights ISD cancels children’s author visit after dispute over LGBTQ+ reference in glitter book

Cancelled school visit centers on a single sentence and new Texas restrictions

Alamo Heights Independent School District canceled a scheduled visit by Austin children’s author Chris Barton after district officials sought assurances that he would not reference gender identity, sexual orientation, or a specific book that includes the term “LGBTQ+.” The district’s request followed inquiries from three parents who contacted elementary school principals after noticing the word in Barton’s nonfiction picture book Glitter Everywhere!.

The contested reference appears in a sentence describing a practice in some faith communities that use “ashes and purple glitter” to signal welcome for LGBTQ+ worshippers. District officials told Barton that mentioning the book, or discussing topics connected to gender identity or sexual orientation, would violate a new provision in Texas law that took effect Sept. 1, 2025.

What the author visit was expected to include

District officials said Barton was scheduled to present at two Alamo Heights elementary schools and planned to sell and sign five titles during the visit. The district also noted Barton previously visited in 2018 and described that earlier appearance as a positive experience for students.

Barton, a longtime children’s author, said the schools had not selected Glitter Everywhere! as one of the featured books for the event. He said he would not commit to an agreement barring him from referring to the title if students asked about it, describing the requested assurances as incompatible with answering questions fully during a student Q&A.

The law district officials cited

The district pointed to Section 11.005 of the Texas Education Code, added through Senate Bill 12, which addresses “diversity, equity, and inclusion duties.” The law restricts school districts from developing or implementing policies, trainings, activities, or programs that reference protected characteristics including gender identity or sexual orientation except in limited circumstances tied to compliance with state or federal law.

In practice, the statute has prompted school districts across Texas to reassess how campus activities, student programming, and staff communications are handled when topics intersect with sexual orientation or gender identity.

Legal challenges and broader implications for school programming

Civil rights organizations and advocates have challenged portions of Senate Bill 12 in federal court, arguing that aspects of the statute infringe on constitutional protections, including free speech and equal protection. That litigation remains pending, and its outcome could influence how districts interpret what is permitted in classroom-adjacent settings such as author visits, assemblies, and extracurricular programming.

• District action: the author visit was canceled after Barton declined to provide requested assurances.
• Trigger for review: parent inquiries about an LGBTQ+ reference in a nonfiction book about glitter.
• Policy environment: Texas Senate Bill 12 took effect Sept. 1, 2025, and districts are adjusting compliance practices.

The cancellation underscores how quickly routine literacy events can become entangled in evolving state restrictions and unsettled legal interpretations.

No alternative date for the visit was announced.