Lambda Legal has settled a lawsuit in the case of Passion Star, a black transgender woman who experienced repeated rapes, physical assaults and an attack with a razor while she was incarcerated in all-male prisons in Texas. The agreement, which was announced on March 15, includes a monetary settlement and an update to the state…
A Bungled Strategy in the Case of Kenne McFadden’s Death
San Antonio’s transgender community is angered and bewildered at how the man who admitted to pushing a local trans woman into the San Antonio River, where she drowned, was found not guilty of criminal conduct in a probation hearing. Mark Daniel Lewis was indicted for manslaughter last year by a Bexar County grand jury for…
Texas Teacher Suspended After Seeking to Add LGBT Protections to School District’s Policy
A teacher from Arlington, Texas was put on administrative leave with pay after she sought to open a discussion about adding LGBT protections to the Mansfield Independent School District’s nondiscrimination policy. Stacy Bailey has been an art teacher at Charlotte Anderson Elementary School in Arlington for the past 10 years and is a former teacher…
Protest Planned After Judge Rules Kenne McFadden’s Death Not a Crime
LGBT activists are planning to protest after a local judge ruled that the actions of a man who pushed a transgender woman into the San Antonio River, thus causing her to drown, did not constitute criminal conduct. State District Judge Joey Contreras’ ruling took place during a probation revocation hearing for Mark Daniel Lewis who…
Wellness Expo Slated for Woman and Girls HIV-AIDS Awareness Day
The 13th annual National Women and Girls HIV-AIDS Awarness Day will be observed in San Antonio with a wellness expo on March 9 at the YWCA Olga Madrid Center on Castroville Road. The event is being organized by the San Antonio HIV Awareness Coalition in association with local health and community service organizations. The theme…
Trans Woman Shot at San Antonio Motel
San Antonio police are reporting that a transgender woman was shot at a local motel by a man she met on an internet dating site around 2 a.m. on Thursday, March 8. Police say the woman, who has not been identified, was staying at the Travelodge Inn & Suites at 2383 NE Interstate 410 Loop.…
Primary Election Night Snapshots
Almost 160,000 votes were cast in the March 6 Joint Primary Election in Bexar County. What is notable about this election is that nearly 56 percent of those were Democratic votes. It also was the first time in nearly a decade since Democrats outvoted Republicans in Bexar County early voting. It was a record year…
Randy Rainbow Brings His Satirical Songs of Resistance to SA
The election of Donald Trump as president has turned out to be a good thing for Randy Rainbow. “Every time something happens with this fakakta administration, there’s more material,” he told Mother Jones in an interview. For Rainbow (his real surname), resistance to “The Donald” takes the form of musical satires like “Desperate Cheeto,” set…
Local LGBT Candidates Look Toward Primary Election
As the primary election nears on Tuesday, March 6, nearly 50 LGBT candidates around the state, including three from San Antonio, are making last minute pitches. These candidates are running in races for Congress, the state government and legislature, and positions in county and city government. This year, nearly three times more LGBT candidates running…
Austin Car Dealership Appeals District Judge’s Ruling in Case of Outed Trans Employee
An Austin car dealership is appealing the decision of a U.S. District Court judge who ruled the company cannot dismiss the claim of invasion of privacy made by a fired employee who says management openly discussed his transgender status with fellow employees. On January 31, District Judge Lee Yeakel denied the Roger Beasley Automotive Group’s…