On October 14, 2026, the Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) issued cease and desist notices to Peerless Network and Infobip after unauthorized text messages linking to TENT guides were sent to Texas residents, mostly Republicans. TENT denied sending the texts and reported receiving widespread online hate. The messages prompted Republican Representative Jeff Leach to request an attorney general investigation into TENT for alleged violations of Senate Bill 12.
Organization responds to impersonation texts
- ▪The Transgender Education Network of Texas stated it did not send the text messages linking to its website and did not know who sent them.
- ▪The Transgender Education Network of Texas sent a cease and desist notice on October 14, 2026, demanding messaging companies Peerless Network and Infobip stop an unnamed client from committing misdemeanor online impersonation and seeking the client's identity.
- ▪A spokesperson for the Transgender Education Network of Texas stated that the organization received a surge of hate and threats via email and social media following the unauthorized text messages.
- ▪The Transgender Education Network of Texas expressed concern in its October 14, 2026 cease and desist letter that the unauthorized texts could be an attempt to manufacture a pretext for legal action against the group.
Unauthorized texts sent to voters
- ▪Text messages sent from at least three phone numbers on October 12 and October 13, 2026, advertised guides on bathrooms and gender-affirming care while linking to the website of the Transgender Education Network of Texas.
- ▪The unauthorized text messages were distributed less than a week before early voting began in the Texas elections.
- ▪Recipients on social media reported that the text messages referencing Transgender Education Network of Texas guides were apparently sent to self-identified Republicans and their friends.
- ▪The material linked in the unauthorized texts included guidance from the Transgender Education Network of Texas on navigating Senate Bill 8, Texas' public building restroom restriction law.
Calls for investigation into texts
- ▪Texas Representative Jeff Leach sent a letter on October 13, 2026, asking the Texas Attorney General's Office to investigate the Transgender Education Network of Texas for allegedly circumventing Senate Bill 12.
- ▪Following the statement from the Transgender Education Network of Texas denying involvement in the texts, Representative Jeff Leach stated he wants a diligent search for the truth regarding who sent the messages.
Senate Bill 12 and student guidance
- ▪Texas Senate Bill 12, passed in 2025, prohibits public school clubs based on gender identity or sexual orientation, bans diversity material, and prevents teachers from referring to students by preferred pronouns.
- ▪The material linked in the unauthorized text messages encouraged students to use official school grievance processes if told state law prevents forming groups like Gay-Straight Alliances.
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