The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council voted unanimously to restore protections for social workers’ LGBTQ and disabled clients after backlash from advocates and lawmakers. By Edgar Walters, The Texas Tribune After backlash from lawmakers and advocates, a state board voted Tuesday to undo a rule change that would have allowed social workers to turn away…
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Advocates take aim at Texas board’s decision to let social workers turn away LGBTQ clients
LGBTQ+ advocates and state lawmakers are mobilizing against the Texas State Board of Social Workers’ removal last week of protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and disability status from its code of conduct. During a Friday news conference organized by the Texas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, advocates said they will pressure…
New Texas rule lets social workers turn away clients who are LGBTQ or have a disability
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…
Who do you want to be President? Early voting in San Antonio begins October 13
Early voting for the November 3 election begins on October 13 in Bexar County and continues until October 30. The election includes ballots for president, Congressional and U.S. Senate races, state offices ( judges, representatives and senators) and county officials including sheriff. This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, early voting has been extended by…
LGBTQ-friendly vegan bar and restaurant La Botanica will close after losing lease
Though La Botanica — Texas’ first vegan restaurant and full bar — survived the initial wave of COVID-19 closures, the local favorite was denied a new lease by its landlord and will close October 20. “We have reached the end of our building lease and have been denied a new contract. This means that La…
In Agreement with FAA, San Antonio Must Offer Chick-fil-A Concession at Airport
In an informal agreement negotiated on September 10 with the Federal Aviation Administration, the City of San Antonio must now offer Chick-fil-A concession at the San Antonio International Airport. The FAA’s agreement comes as the result of an investigation initiated by the U.S. Department of Transportation at the request of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton…
Public Theater Launches Virtual Season with Rick Sanchez in One-Man Show ‘Buyer and Cellar’
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. The Public Theater of San Antonio is starting its 2020-2021 season on a lighthearted note with Jonathan Tollins’ one-man comedy Buyer and Cellar. It is the first in a COVID-safe lineup of one-person plays the theatre will produce for live virtual viewing. The comedy follows a struggling LA…
LGBTQ Community Organizations Participating in the ‘Big Give’
Six organizations with links to San Antonio’s LGBTQ community are participating in the Big Give, a 24-hour day of online fundraising during which over 600 nonprofits from throughout South Central Texas make an appeal to potential donors. Since 2014, 150,000 donors have given nearly $15 million dollars to over 2,000 nonprofits via the Big Give,…
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…
Two San Antonio Medical Facilities Designated Healthcare Leaders by HRC Foundation
Two San Antonio medical facilities have been been named Healthcare Leaders in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2020 Healthcare Equality Index. The facilities, Metropolitan Methodist Hospital and VA South Texas Health Care System received perfect scores on HRC’s index. A third hospital, the Methodist Hospital located in the Medical Center, received a score of 40.…