A professional organization of social workers called the change “incredibly disheartening,” while Gov. Greg Abbott’s office said it was necessary to conform with existing state law. By Edgar Walters, The Texas Tribune Texas social workers are criticizing a state regulatory board’s decision this week to remove protections for LGBTQ clients and clients with disabilities who…
Texas Revising Its Sex Education Standards, But Will Likely Remain Silent on LGBTQ Issues
The Republican-dominated State Board of Education is taking up the first revision of sex ed curriculum in more than 20 years. LGBTQ students say they’re being excluded again. By Aliyya Swaby, The Texas Tribune By the age of 16, Atticus Sandlin has become a sex education expert. As a student at Hebron High School in…
Texas Teacher Who Put BLM and LGBTQ Posters in Virtual Classroom Was Placed on Leave
School officials said parents complained about the posters. Taylor Lifka was allowed to return Tuesday, but she said she is not prepared to come back until the school commits to more inclusive policies. By Stacy Fernández, The Texas Tribune Unable to meet with her students in person because of the pandemic, Taylor Lifka, an advanced…
Here’s How to Vote by Mail in Texas
Your questions answered about who qualifies, when to expect your ballot and how to make sure your vote counts. By Megan Menchaca and Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune Texas is gearing up for a monumental election in the middle of a pandemic. And while the state is one of just six that hasn’t opened up…
Texans urge state education board to expand sexual education standards and include LGBTQ information
More than 200 signed up to speak as the Texas State Board of Education began taking public testimony Monday on its first rewrite of sexual education policies since 1997. By Aliyya Swaby, The Texas Tribune At a marathon virtual hearing Monday, dozens of Texans implored the State Board of Education to dramatically update the minimum…
Texas Lawmakers Want to Add More LGTBQ Safeguards After U.S. Supreme Court Ruling
A new ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court makes clear that it violates federal law to fire an employee on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. Now Texas lawmakers want to guarantee similar protections for LGBTQ Texans in housing, health care and other spheres. by Emma Platoff and Cassandra Pollock, The Texas Tribune…
Gov. Abbott orders Texans to Avoid Groups of 10; Closes Bars, Gyms and Restaurants for Dine-In
“We are doing this now today so we can get back to business as usual more quickly,” Abbott said. By Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday took sweeping action to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus across Texas, issuing an executive order that will close restaurants and schools, among other…
Texas coronavirus cases lead to cancellation of Austin’s SXSW
The annual Austin festival founded in 1987 attracts more than 400,000 attendees from all over the world and generates hundreds of millions of dollars. By Naomi Andu, The Texas Tribune Austin Mayor Steve Adler declared a local disaster on Thursday that effectively cancels this year’s South by Southwest festival. The 10-day event was scheduled to…
Joe Biden Wins Texas Primary in a Stunning Turnaround
Biden had trailed in the polls leading up to election day, which pointed to Bernie Sanders as the frontrunner. By Alex Samuels, The Texas Tribune Former Vice President Joe Biden has won the Texas presidential primary, continuing a stunning revival of his once-struggling campaign that has helped him solidify himself as one of the two…
After Penalizing Gay Teacher, Mansfield (Texas) ISD Awards Her $100,000, Plans Training on LGBTQ Issues
As part of the settlement, the school district agreed to provide mandatory training to human resources and counseling staff on LGBTQ issues in schools, and to require its board of trustees to vote on whether to add protections for sexual orientation into its policies. By Naomi Andu, The Texas Tribune Arlington art teacher Stacy Bailey…