The crime rate in Texas is relatively low. In the larger cities, if you stay in the tourist areas you will be generally safe talk to your hotel concierge or manager if you aren't sure about a certain area. The rural areas have a very low crime rate. Texans have a reputation for carrying firearms or resolving disputes with gunfire, but such actions are not significantly more common here than in other parts of the US. Concerns about crime spilling over from Juarez across the border into El Paso have waned, as El Paso remains a very safe city.
The startling heat of a Texas summer is not to be underestimated. The state has experienced temperatures as high as 120ºF 49ºC, and though this extreme is rare, it is a good indicator of how hot things can get. Areas from north central Texas down to the coast also tend to experience stifling humidity during the spring and summer months, so pack accordingly with plenty of loose, light colored clothing. The western portion of the state tends to experience higher temperatures and lower humidity, and although Texas deserts are beautiful, the heat can be dangerous without the proper precautions. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen. Be aware of the weather during hurricane season on the coast June through November, though hurricanes move slow and provide days to weeks of warning, and of tornado season spring and summer if you're planning a trip from the Dallas/Fort Worth area and points west.
Texas is in "Tornado Alley". Check the Tornado safety page if you are visiting Texas.
Texas is generally safe for gays and lesbians, as the laws against homosexuality were struck down by the Supreme Court via Lawrence v. Texas court case in 2003. Some Texans do hold some negative views towards public displays of homosexuality, but this varies by where one travels, with homophobic views usually being found in the more rural parts Texas. Regardless, violence against gays is very rare. The cities of Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio contain large gay scenes, and attitudes towards homosexuals are more positive in those cities than in any other parts of the state.
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Texas has no official language. However, as with the rest of the United States, English is the predominant language of the state. Spanish is also widely spoken by approximately one-third of the population. Don't assume that all people of Mexican origin speak Spanish; some families have been in Texas for longer than Texas has been part of the U.S. Texas also has small numbers of Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese speakers as well.
Don't assume that the majority people are going to have a "Texan" accent. While you will run into many that do, the majority of Texans, especially in the cities, lack the "Texan twang" one associates with the state's residents.