In the opening days of the 87th Legislative Session, members of the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus were named to several key positions including Speaker Pro Tem, five chair, and 12 vice chairs positions. The Texas House LGBTQ Caucus was formed in January 2019 to “create a forum for Texas legislators to discuss issues that affect…
Texas Equity PAC Releases Lists of Endorsements for 2020 Election
Texas Equity PAC, the official political action committee of Equality Texas, released three lists of endorsements for the 2020 General Election. In their press release Texas Equity explains, “Endorsements are only done for Texas races. Senate and House endorsements are based on the following factors: Authorship or co-authorship of legislation that supports full lived equality…
Pro-LGBTQ Bills Look Dead in the Texas House, but Advocates Say They’ve Made Progress
“Having a hearing is sometimes a victory,” said state Rep. Celia Israel, D-Austin, whose conversion therapy ban was debated for the first time this year. By Emma Platoff, The Texas Tribune In every session since she was elected to the Texas House, state Rep. Celia Israel has taken aim at the controversial practice of conversion…
Rep. Garnet Coleman Seeks to Add Gender Identity to Texas Hate Crimes Law
State Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) held a press conference at the State Capitol on April 29 to announce he is introducing a bill to add gender identity to the list of protected classes in the state’s hate crimes law. The James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act was passed by the State Legislature in 2001. The…
Pro and anti-LGBT bills await opening of Texas Legislature
The 84th Texas Legislature opens its 140-day work session today with a Republican majority: Twenty Republicans and 11 Democrats in the Senate, and 97 Republicans and 52 Democrats in the House. There are bills filed to further restrict abortion rights, to terminate in-state tuition for children of immigrants, to outlaw sanctuary cities and to increase…