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A Texas water park event originally advertised as “Muslims only” has been revised to welcome all visitors following criticism and threats from Governor Greg Abbott to withdraw state funding. The organizers have modified their promotional materials to emphasize a “modest dress code” rather than religious exclusivity.
The annual Dallas-Fort Worth “Epic Eid” celebration, scheduled for June 1 at the Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark in Grand Prairie, initially specified it was a “Muslim only event” requiring modest attire. After facing backlash, event organizer Aminah Knight updated the promotional materials, removing the exclusionary language and replacing “For Muslims only” with “All are welcome,” while maintaining the modest dress requirements.
“In response to feedback, we have updated our materials to clearly reflect that this is a modest dress-only event, centered around a respectful and family-friendly environment,” Knight explained on the event website. She noted the gathering aims to “create a space where individuals and families, particularly those who value modest dress and a modest environment, can come together and enjoy a recreational setting comfortably.”
The controversy stems from the use of a taxpayer-funded facility for an allegedly exclusive event. Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark is owned by the city of Grand Prairie and partially funded by a voter-approved 0.25% sales tax.
Governor Abbott strongly condemned the original policy, calling it “unconstitutional” and “religious discrimination.” In a statement on social media, he wrote, “I signed HB 4211 into law — banning Muslim-only no-go zones in Texas. The City must cancel the event and commit to never allowing something like it again by May 11th, or lose $530,000 in state grants.”
Abbott emphasized that public facilities should be accessible to all residents, adding, “Let this be a lesson to local officials: Facilities funded by ALL taxpayers are not just for a subset of Texans.”
The governor followed up with a letter to Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen, pointing out that his Public Safety Office currently has five active grants with the city. He reminded city leaders that they had agreed to comply with state laws regarding civil rights and discrimination when accepting the funding.
This marks the third year the Epic Eid celebration has been held at Epic Waters. According to the updated event information, while men and women will not be separated during the gathering, guests are expected to maintain “Islamic etiquette” as they would in other mixed-gender spaces.
The dress code requirements remain in place, with women expected to wear “burkinis” (modest swimwear that covers most of the body) and men required to wear swim trunks with shirts. The event will still feature halal food options and a designated prayer area.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions in Texas regarding religious accommodation in public spaces. Last year, Governor Abbott signed HB 4211, which prohibits what he termed “Muslim-only no-go zones” in the state, part of broader efforts that have drawn both support and criticism.
Civil rights advocates have expressed concerns about religious targeting, while supporters of the governor’s actions emphasize the importance of maintaining equal access to public facilities regardless of faith background.
The revised Epic Eid event is proceeding as scheduled on June 1, now officially open to all community members willing to adhere to the modest dress requirements.
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6 Comments
This is a delicate issue, but the revised policy seems like a sensible way to balance inclusion and cultural/religious preferences. Hopefully the governor will reconsider the funding threat and allow the organizers to proceed with their event.
This is a tricky situation – finding the right balance between inclusion and accommodating cultural/religious preferences. Kudos to the organizers for updating their policy to be more welcoming, while still maintaining the modest dress code.
Interesting developments with the Texas water park event. Seems like a reasonable compromise to maintain a modest dress code while welcoming all visitors. Inclusivity is important, as long as it’s balanced with respect for cultural preferences.
I appreciate the organizers’ efforts to create a comfortable, family-friendly environment. The modest dress code is understandable, and as long as the event is open to everyone who respects those guidelines, it seems like a fair compromise.
It’s encouraging to see the organizers respond to feedback and revise their policy to be more inclusive. The modest dress code is a reasonable request, and as long as the event is open to all, I don’t see an issue with it.
The governor’s threats to withdraw funding over this seem like an overreaction. As long as the event is open to all, the modest dress code seems reasonable. Curious to see how this plays out and if it sets any precedents for similar events.