The executive committee of the Bexar County Republican Party on January 8 voted down a resolution that sought the “repeal of our local governments’ pro-homosexual policies.” The resolution, which was circulated to local GOP precinct chairs in mid-December, called for the repeal of the nondiscrimination ordinance that was approved by the City Council last September…
Pro and anti-LGBT bills await opening of Texas Legislature
The 84th Texas Legislature opens its 140-day work session today with a Republican majority: Twenty Republicans and 11 Democrats in the Senate, and 97 Republicans and 52 Democrats in the House. There are bills filed to further restrict abortion rights, to terminate in-state tuition for children of immigrants, to outlaw sanctuary cities and to increase…
5th Circuit winds up same-sex marriage hearings
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans held center stage today while it heard appeals of same-sex marriage cases from Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. The three appeals were heard by Judge Jerry E. Smith (a Reagan appointee), James E. Graves (an Obama appointee) and Judge Patrick E. Higginbotham (another Regan…
SNAP offers assistance to pet owners with HIV
A program from the local branch of the Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) is offering free and low-cost veterinary services to San Antonio residents living with HIV/AIDS. The program, dubbed the Animal Aid Program, provides free spay-neuter surgery, free wellness exams, and at-cost wellness services and products for the pets of low-income persons with HIV/AIDS. Program…
State Rep. files bill to deny marriage licenses to Texas same-sex couples
Updated Jan.8,2015, 7:20 p.m. Perhaps anticipating that marriage equality could soon be a reality in Texas, a member of the state House of Representatives has submitted a bill that would deny the funding and issuing of marriage licenses for same sex couples. State Rep. Cecil Bell Jr., a Republican from Magnolia, Texas is the author…
Texas marriage equality fight heads to New Orleans
On January 9, the plaintiffs in the Texas marriage equality lawsuit will head to New Orleans where the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit will hear the state’s appeal of U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia’s ruling that struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. The case has reached the 5th Circuit thanks…
2014 in Review: Honorable and Dishonorable Mentions
HONORABLE MENTIONS Leading the Fight for Equality: The Texas Marriage Team On January 9, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans will hear the State of Texas’ appeal of U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia’s ruling that the state’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional. This case would never have reached the…
2014 in Review: A Year in the Life of ‘Q’ S.A.
A select month-by-month recap of stories about our community reported here and elsewhere in 2014. JANUARY From NDO to MLK — Two communities fighting for equality Some people were not happy to see the Rainbow flag at the Martin Luther King, Jr. March. No questionnaire, no Stonewall endorsement for Wendy Davis The Stonewall Democrats of…
2014 in Review: Top 10 Stories of the Year
1. S.A. federal judge finds state same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional Last February, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage ruling it violated the Fourteenth Amendment rights of gay couples to equal protection and due process of the law. The judge stayed his decision pending appeal. On November 24, attorneys…
Exit interview: Police Chief William McManus
Last July, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus announced he would be leaving the department at the end of the year to accept a position at CPS Energy heading up the utility’s security operations. McManus, a native of Philadelphia, came to San Antonio in the summer of 2006. He spent 23 years on the Washington…