A so-called “religious liberty” bill that was killed in the Texas House last week has been revived in the Texas Senate where it appears to be on a fast track. Last Thursday, state Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Carrollton), along with her colleagues on the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus defeated the bill, HB 3172, using a couple…
Texas House Schedules Hearings for Two ‘Extreme’ Anti-LGBTQ Bills
The State Affairs committee of the Texas House of Representatives has scheduled hearings on April 17 for what Equality Texas is calling “the two most extreme anti-LGBTQ bills filed this session.” The first bill, HB 1035, which was introduced by Rep. William Zedler (R-Arlington), grants special rights to discriminate for people who hold the belief…
Anti-LGBTQ Bills Flood State Legislature as Filing Deadline Arrives
Friday, March 15 was the deadline for filing bills for this session of the Texas Legislature and as expected, Republicans have unleashed a torrent of proposed legislation aimed a scaling back the rights of LGBTQ Texans. On March 18, Equality Texas released a list of “bad bills” and expressed particular concern for two bills: SB15…
Proposed Texas Bill Gutting Local Sick Leave Laws Would Also Void Non-Discrimination Ordinances
A proposed bill in the Texas Senate (SB 15), which would deny cities the ability to enact paid sick leave ordinances, also contains provisions that would also allow the state to gut the enforcement of non-discrimination ordinances. When it was originally filed by state Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), SB 15 was designed to prevent cities…
Equality Texas Calls on Legislature to Enact Laws to Protect LGBTQ Texans
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. Citing a new report detailing barriers to equality in the state, Equality Texas, the largest LGBTQ advocacy group in the state, is demanding the legislature pass comprehensive nondiscrimination laws this session. At a February 27 press conference, activists, parents and members of the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus joined…
New Poll Shows Majority of Texans Support LGBT Protections
A new poll released on January 30 shows that a majority of Texans support laws which would protect LGBT citizens from discrimination in employment, public accommodations and housing. The poll, released by the Public Religion Research Institute, reveals that support for LGBT Texans is bipartisan and endorsed by many religious organizations including white evangelicals. Researchers…
Chuck Smith is Leaving Equality Texas; Interim Executive Director is Named
Equality Texas announced on December 17 that its executive director, Chuck Smith is leaving and being replaced with an interim executive director. No reason was given for Smith’s departure. “For 15 years, Chuck Smith served our organization, establishing Equality Texas as a credible, successful, and relentless advocate in Texas state politics,” Elizabeth Myers, president of…
Texas LGBTs Reminded of Affordable Care Act’s December 15 Enrollment Deadline
Equality Texas is spreading the word to the LGBT community that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is still the law of the land and consumers have until December 15 to sign up for health care coverage. In an email sent out on December 3, Equality Texas CEO Chuck Smith explains, “There are more insurers than…
Sheryl Sculley Has Been a Steadfast LGBT Ally During Her Tenure as City Manager
Sheryl Sculley’s November 29 announcement that she will retire after a 13-year tenure as San Antonio’s city manager is a bittersweet development for the LGBT community where she is seen as a steadfast ally. Sculley was the highest ranking city official to ever reach out to the LGBT community when in 2006 she addressed a…
Ted Cruz Campaign Ad Features Sheriff Who Threatened Transgender Women
Senator Ted Cruz’s re-election campaign is currently airing an ad that features comments by a Denton County, Texas sheriff who in 2016 said he would assault any transgender woman who might use the same restroom as his daughter. In the debate on the bathroom bill during the last session of the state legislature, Sheriff Tracy…