Originally published in the San Antonio Current In the midst of what the Governor has called a foster care “crisis” in Texas, state Senators voted to tentatively approve a bill to make it easier for religious adoption agencies to turn away prospective parents. Sen. Charles Perry’s House Bill 3859 would grant state foster care and…
Senate Approves Recusals for County Clerks, Judges Objecting to Same-Sex Marriage
By Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune April 11, 2017 The Texas Senate on Tuesday gave initial approval to a measure allowing county clerks to recuse themselves from signing marriage licenses for same-sex couples because of religious objections. On a 21-10 vote, senators approved Senate Bill 522 by Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, under which a county commissioners…
Texas Senate Approves Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill
In what is called a “third reading,” the Texas Senate voted on March 15 to approve Senate Bill 6 which bars transgender people from using the bathroom that matches their gender identity and would prohibit local ordinances from protecting trans citizens from discrimination in public accommodations. The 21-10 vote include support from one Democrat, Sen.…
State senators introduce nondiscrimination bill
On March 2, Texas Independence Day, five Democratic state senators introduced Senate Bill 856 that would prohibit discrimination in the areas of employment, public accommodation, housing, and state contracting based upon sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Senator Jose Rodriguez, along with co-authors Senators Rodney Elllis, Sylvia Garcia, Kirk Watson, and John Whitmire, introduced…