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…
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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…
A blow by blow of the vote to regulate Uber and Lyft
In a 7-2 vote, San Antonio’s City Council amended its vehicle-for-hire laws to include regulations for transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft. The new regulations will go into effect March 1 of next year. While the new regs will allow the TNCs to operate legally within San Antonio, they might drive Uber and Lyft…
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…
SA Council vote could push out Uber, Lyft
San Antonio might soon make national headlines, but not in a way city leaders hope for. Depending how City Council votes Thursday on the regulation of transportation network companies (TNCs), one of them might pull service completely from the city. In a letter to the mayor and councilmembers, Leandre Johns, Uber’s General Manager, said that…
Fiesta Youth to launch group for young adults
In September 2013, Fiesta Youth launched the city’s first organization dedicated to LGBT youth. In January 2015, the non-profit will expand to include a twice-monthly support group for young adults aged 18 to 24. The new group, Fiesta U, will meet twice a month starting January 8. “The board of directors recognized that in addition…
Applicants line up to replace Bernal on City Council
Fourteen District 1 residents have filed applications to fill the City Council vacancy created when Diego Bernal stepped down to run for Mike Villarreal’s seat in the State Legislature. LGBT constituents in District 1 have a particular interest in who is chosen given that the district has the largest number of “gayborhoods” in the city.…
Bexar County Clerk ready to issue licenses if stay lifted on Texas marriage ban
The Texas Observer is reporting that Bexar County Clerk Gerard C. “Gerry” Rickhoff is ready to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples if U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia lifts the stay of his February decision that found the Texas equal marriage ban unconstitutional. On November 24, attorneys with Akin Gump, the law firm representing plaintiffs Vic…