Former Bexar County Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz is speaking out in favor of marriage equality in a campaign by Texas for Marriage which is working to “to broaden the conversation about why marriage matters to all couples and their families.” In a full page writeup on the Texas for Marriage website, Ortiz says his support for…
Bexar Republicans seek repeal of local ‘pro-homosexual policies’
A resolution that will be presented at the January 8 meeting of the executive committee of the Bexar County Republican Party urges the “repeal of our local governments’ pro-homosexual policies.” The resolution, which was circulated to local GOP precinct chairs, denounces the passage of the nondiscrimination ordinance that was approved by the City Council in…
Two gay men beaten in The Saint parking lot
Fox San Antonio is reporting that two employees of The Saint were beaten by strangers in the parking lot of the bar as they left work at 3 a.m. on December 17. One of the victims had to be hospitalized. The men believe they were targeted because they are gay. Daniel Ramos told Fox that…
Zoning Commission approves homeless LGBT youth shelter at church
The City of San Antonio’s Zoning Commission approved the zoning change request of a downtown church that plans to host a homeless shelter for LGBT youth. The decision was announced at the commission’s meeting on December 16. The Travis Park United Methodist Church filed for the zoning change to reclassify it’s building at 230 E.…
Salvation Army says it’s not homophobic
The Salvation Army, a Methodist global ministry and the second largest charity in the U.S., is pushing back against accusations that it is homophobic despite what many consider to be a poor record on LGBT rights. With Christmas just around the corner, the charity is making a public relations push to dispel the claims that…
Depositions on hold in AT&T NDO case
The deposing of witnesses in the nondiscrimination case of a transgender man who says he was unjustly fired from AT&T has been put on hold after the Fourth Court of Appeals issued a stay on December 11. On November 5, Bexar County District Judge David Canales granted Matthew Hileman’s request to put three AT&T employees…
Hate crimes against gays and lesbians top numbers in S.A.
FBI crime statistics released this week show that San Antonio comes in third in the state with the number of hate crimes committed in 2013. The majority of those crimes were perpetrated against gays and lesbians. The FBI numbers show that 11 hate crimes were recorded in San Antonio last year, seven (63 percent) of…
Garcia denies motion to lift stay on Texas marriage ban
With one month left before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans takes up the constitutionality of Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia has denied a motion to lift the stay on his ruling that struck down that ban. “Lifting the stay would not bring finality…
Trevino chosen to take Bernal’s vacant seat on City Council
In a vote the by City Council on December 11, Robert C. Trevino was chosen to replace City Councilman Diego Bernal who resigned to run for the State Legislature. Trevino was chosen from a field of 14 applicants that was winnowed down to three finalists who spoke at today’s city council meeting. Trevino is an…
Attorney representing NDO cases applies for D1 council seat
The attorney who is representing the first two cases filed with the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance has submitted an application to fill the interim city council seat left vacant after Diego Bernal resigned to run for the State Legislature. Justin P. Nichols is one of two openly gay applicants who are seeking the District 1 council…