Updated on Jan. 7 at 10:00 a.m. to include a statement by District 1 City Councilman Roberto Treviño. Four San Antonio politicians issued statements on January 6 opposing a bill (SB6) introduced by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst that would require Texas transgender citizens to use public bathrooms that correspond with…
Lt. Gov. Patrick Unleashes Anti-Transgender Bill
Originally published in the San Antonio Current Texas Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick began his Thursday press conference introducing a bill that would segregate transgender people from the general public by quoting Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent on things that matter.” But not once during his press…
Texas Judge Halts Federal Transgender Protections
A federal judge in Texas issued a temporary injunction on December 31 against efforts by the Obama administration intended to ban transgender discrimination by hospitals, the Texas Tribune reports. U.S District Judge Reed O’Connor sided with Texas, along with the religious hospital network Franciscan Alliance and four other Republican-led states, in a lawsuit that claimed…
Trans Panic: Coping with a Trump Presidency and the Shifting Political Climate
Originally published in the San Antonio Current The first thing I did when I woke up this morning was check the results of the presidential election on my phone. I had fallen asleep fairly early, before all was decided, because the way the race was leaning was making me far too anxious. Despite the efforts…
Transgender Day of Remembrance to be Observed at MCC
The Metropolitan Community Church of San Antonio will once again play host to the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance observance on November 17. The day honors the memory of those who have died as a result of anti-transgender prejudice. According to GLAAD, “Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed in late November in recognition of the…
Texas Has a Sizable Trans Population. So Why All the Anti-Trans Politics?
Originally published in the San Antonio Current A recent study conducted by researchers at The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law shows that approximately 1.4 million adults consider themselves to be transgender. According to the study, the number is twice that of the transgender population estimated to have existed in the United States…
Paxton Tries to Stop Federal Protections for Trans Students Before School Starts
Originally published in the San Antonio Current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wants a nationwide injunction against federal protections for trans kids in schools. On Tuesday, Paxton announced the coalition of states Texas is leading in litigation against the federal government filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against a U.S. Department of Education and…
Trans Woman Complains of Poor Treatment at Walmart Pharmacy in San Marcos
A transgender woman says she was left wondering if the pharmacist at the Walmart store in San Marcos, Texas is transphobic after she experienced delays getting her prescription for hormones filled and then was told by the pharmacist that she could not buy the syringes needed to administer the treatments. Rikki Buffalino says she took…
Local Bartender’s Photo Suggests Trans Customers Pee in Bucket
A bartender at a local sports bar posted a picture on his Facebook page of a bucket with a sign thumbtacked above it that reads, “transgender bathroom.” Above the photo he suggested the bar is mindful of “social issues.” The photo, which started circulating on Facebook at around 11 p.m. on May 17, was posted by Brett…
Commentary: Obama Administration Is Right on Transgender Issues
By Guest Contributor Dani Marrero Hi, Organizer, Aquí Estamos Aquí Estamos commends the directive of President Barack Obama to recognize the right of transgender students in public schools to use the restroom that matches their gender identity. While access to public facilities based on gender identity was already protected by federal law under Title IX,…