The case could set precedent in Texas for same sex couples who were together prior to the Supreme Court legalizing gay marriage. A gay San Antonio man has filed for a divorce in which he seeks to prove a common law marriage existed with his former partner of 25 years when federal law prohibited same…
San Antonio Family Assn. Protests Bexar County Commissioners Court’s Pride Proclamation
Members of the anti-LGBTQ group, the San Antonio Family Association, led an unsuccessful protest to block the Bexar County Commissioners Court’s proclamation recognizing Pride San Antonio’s Pride Bigger Than Texas parade and festival. The proclamation designates June 29 as Pride Bigger Than Texas Day and recognizes Pride San Antonio’s service to the community and its…
Local Facility Blocks SA Trans Woman From Making Blood Plasma Donation
A local blood plasma center has rejected a San Antonio woman from making a blood plasma donation based solely on the fact she is transgender. As a result, she has filed a nondiscrimination claim with the city’s Office of Equity. According to attorney Justin P. Nichols, on August 18, Nicole Throckmorton went to the Biotest…
Austin Car Dealership Appeals District Judge’s Ruling in Case of Outed Trans Employee
An Austin car dealership is appealing the decision of a U.S. District Court judge who ruled the company cannot dismiss the claim of invasion of privacy made by a fired employee who says management openly discussed his transgender status with fellow employees. On January 31, District Judge Lee Yeakel denied the Roger Beasley Automotive Group’s…
Judge Rules Austin Car Dealership Cannot Claim Free Speech After Outing Fired Trans Employee
A federal magistrate judge has preliminarily ruled that an Austin car dealership cannot use the right to free speech as a way to dismiss the claims of invasion of privacy made by a fired employee who says management “openly discussed his status” with his fellow workers. On August 1, Bradley R. Rudkin, the former general…
Austin Car Dealership Says First Amendment Gives Company Right to Out Trans Employee
Updated: October 19, 2017 4:00 p.m. This article was updated to include replies from Beasley Automotive and from Mr. Rudkin’s attorney. A car dealership in Austin, which is being sued for discrimination by a transgender employee, says freedom of speech gave the company the right to out the employee to other staff members. On August…
Preparing Our Community for the Trump Years
By Justin P. Nichols, Guest Contributor This election didn’t end the way many people wanted, and even more didn’t expect. I’m not one to scream “the sky is falling,” but for the LGBT community, particularly the trans community, I’m saddened to predict cloudy skies with a strong chance of thunderstorms come 2017. We don’t know…
Feds Send SA Trans Man to Women’s Prison
Out In SA has learned that a transgender man from San Antonio has been placed in a women’s federal prison even though he legally changed his name and gender marker before his imprisonment. Celvin Anthonie Carrillo, 31, was sentenced last year to serve 46 months in federal prison for conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants into…
SA attorney offers free help with trans name and gender marker changes
San Antonio attorney Justin P. Nichols announced today he will start offering free legal assistance with name and gender marker changes for transgender people in Bexar County. Gender marker and name changes are necessary for trans people in order to assure that documents like driver’s licenses, passports and other legal instruments reflect their true gender…
With SCOTUS ruling at hand, attorney offers marriage advice to same-sex couples
With the Supreme Court decision on marriage equality due as soon as tomorrow or Monday, a local attorney says his office will be offering free legal advice to gay and lesbian couples who contemplate getting married. “With the right to marry comes many responsibilities, too,” says attorney Justin P. Nichols. “Gay and lesbian couples have…