In what is called a “third reading,” the Texas Senate voted on March 15 to approve Senate Bill 6 which bars transgender people from using the bathroom that matches their gender identity and would prohibit local ordinances from protecting trans citizens from discrimination in public accommodations. The 21-10 vote include support from one Democrat, Sen.…
WOAI News Director Meets with Stonewall Board to Discuss SB6 Town Hall
The regional news director for the Sinclair Broadcast Group met with the board of directors of the Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio on March 13 to address the community’s concerns over a town hall which Sinclair held on March 9 to discuss the controversial Senate Bill 6 and during which supporters of the transgender community…
LGBTQ Activists Disrupt, Walk Out of WOAI “Debate” on Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. On Thursday night, WOAI’s Randy Beamer tried to host a “town hall” on Texas Senate Bill 6, the anti-trans measure that started to wind its way through the legislature this week. It did not go well. After about 15 minutes of discussion, LGBTQ activists and allies had heard…
Texas “Bathroom Bill” Endangers Trans People, Protects No One
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. This week, trans individuals, their loved ones and members of their community showed up at the Texas state capitol to lobby and voice their opposition to Senate Bill 6, also known as the bathroom bill. I tried my best to watch a live stream of the bill’s hearing,…
Democratic State Senator Says He Supports Bathroom Bill
Democratic state Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. of Brownsville announced at a press conference on March 6 that he will vote in support of Senate Bill 6, the so-called bathroom bill being championed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. SB6 bars transgender people from using the bathroom that matches their gender identity and would prohibit local ordinances…
HRC Opens Field Office in SA
The Human Rights Campaign officially opened a field office in San Antonio on Sunday, March 5 with scores of activists on hand for the occasion. The office, located at 315 9th Street in San Antonio, is one of four field offices HRC is opening in the state. The others are located in Austin, Houston and…
SA Already Losing Business Because of Texas Anti-Trans Bill
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. The big business argument against the anti-trans bill brewing at the Texas legislature has been that businesses and organizations will stop coming to a state whose leaders openly discriminate against a whole group of people. While Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick, the bill’s main pusher in Austin, has called…
SA Town Hall to Address Texas Bathroom Bill
A local television broadcaster is sponsoring a town hall discussion about Senate Bill 6, also known as the bathroom bill, which is currently under consideration by the 85th Texas Legislature. The Sinclair Broadcast group, which own local stations Fox 29, News4 San Antonio and the CW35, is organizing the town hall at the Tobin Center…
SA Activists Set to Protest Reversal of Protections for Trans Students
A decision by the Trump administration to rescind protections for transgender students has hit home with San Antonio LGBT activists who are ready to take to the streets to protest the decision. The rescinded policy originated with the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice. It emphasized there is no “medical or mental health diagnosis or…
Richard Linklater Directs Ad Targeting Texas’ Anti-Trans “Bathroom Bill”
Originally published in the San Antonio Current Fear is at the heart of Texas conservatives’ push for a bill that would block transgender Texans from using the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity — a baseless fear that equal rights for transgender people will endanger women and young girls in public restrooms. So in…