The proposal would prohibit students from participating in a sport “that is designated for the biological sex opposite to the student’s biological sex as determined at the student’s birth.” By Shawn Mulcahy, The Texas Tribune Transgender students would be banned from competing on school sports teams based on their gender identity under a bill that…
Texas Republicans want to keep transgender women out of women’s school sports teams
Lawmakers have filed legislation that would ban transgender girls and women who attend public K-12 schools, colleges and universities from playing on single-sex sports teams designated for girls and women. By Kate McGee and Aliyya Swaby, Texas Tribune Texas Republicans are again trying to limit the ways transgender youth can participate in athletics. Lawmakers have…
Texas education board approves new sex ed policy that does not cover LGBTQ students or consent
Most Republicans voted against proposals to teach middle and high school students about consent, sexual orientation or gender identity. The board will take a final vote Friday. By Aliyya Swaby, The Texas Tribune Starting in 2022, seventh and eighth grade students in Texas will learn about forms of birth control beyond abstinence, but middle schoolers…
Texas social workers will no longer be allowed to discriminate against LGBTQ Texans and people with disabilities
The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council voted unanimously to restore protections for social workers’ LGBTQ and disabled clients after backlash from advocates and lawmakers. By Edgar Walters, The Texas Tribune After backlash from lawmakers and advocates, a state board voted Tuesday to undo a rule change that would have allowed social workers to turn away…
New Texas rule lets social workers turn away clients who are LGBTQ or have a disability
A professional organization of social workers called the change “incredibly disheartening,” while Gov. Greg Abbott’s office said it was necessary to conform with existing state law. By Edgar Walters, The Texas Tribune Texas social workers are criticizing a state regulatory board’s decision this week to remove protections for LGBTQ clients and clients with disabilities who…
Texas Revising Its Sex Education Standards, But Will Likely Remain Silent on LGBTQ Issues
The Republican-dominated State Board of Education is taking up the first revision of sex ed curriculum in more than 20 years. LGBTQ students say they’re being excluded again. By Aliyya Swaby, The Texas Tribune By the age of 16, Atticus Sandlin has become a sex education expert. As a student at Hebron High School in…
Texas Teacher Who Put BLM and LGBTQ Posters in Virtual Classroom Was Placed on Leave
School officials said parents complained about the posters. Taylor Lifka was allowed to return Tuesday, but she said she is not prepared to come back until the school commits to more inclusive policies. By Stacy Fernández, The Texas Tribune Unable to meet with her students in person because of the pandemic, Taylor Lifka, an advanced…
Here’s How to Vote by Mail in Texas
Your questions answered about who qualifies, when to expect your ballot and how to make sure your vote counts. By Megan Menchaca and Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune Texas is gearing up for a monumental election in the middle of a pandemic. And while the state is one of just six that hasn’t opened up…
Texans urge state education board to expand sexual education standards and include LGBTQ information
More than 200 signed up to speak as the Texas State Board of Education began taking public testimony Monday on its first rewrite of sexual education policies since 1997. By Aliyya Swaby, The Texas Tribune At a marathon virtual hearing Monday, dozens of Texans implored the State Board of Education to dramatically update the minimum…
Texas Lawmakers Want to Add More LGTBQ Safeguards After U.S. Supreme Court Ruling
A new ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court makes clear that it violates federal law to fire an employee on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. Now Texas lawmakers want to guarantee similar protections for LGBTQ Texans in housing, health care and other spheres. by Emma Platoff and Cassandra Pollock, The Texas Tribune…