By Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune April 11, 2017 The Texas Senate on Tuesday gave initial approval to a measure allowing county clerks to recuse themselves from signing marriage licenses for same-sex couples because of religious objections. On a 21-10 vote, senators approved Senate Bill 522 by Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, under which a county commissioners…
Texas Conservatives Are Still Fighting Marriage Equality
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. On Wednesday, March 1, the Texas Supreme Court will hear arguments over a lawsuit that not only targets the rights of married gay couples in the state but also seeks to blunt the impact of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that granted marriage equality nationwide in the…
Straus Warns of Economic Consequences if Bathroom Bill Passes
Addressing the Texas Association of Business conference on January 18, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus said lawmakers should consider the economic consequences to the state if a proposed bathroom bill (SB6) is passed by the legislature. “There’s been a lot of work put into our state’s economic success. We want to continue that success, and…
Texas Judge Issues Injunction Against Protections for Trans Students
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. A federal judge in Fort Worth ruled late Sunday that conservative states that oppose allowing trans kids in public schools to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity won’t face punishment for maintaining the status quo. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor issued a nationwide injunction stopping…
Nine Times Ken Paxton Tried to Defeat LGBT Community
Last week, it was revealed that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accepted over $100,000 from the founder of a company who his office was investigating for Medicaid fraud. Paxton claims to have done nothing wrong because his $100,000 donation came from a “family friend.” In 2015 Paxton was indicted on two counts of securities fraud and one…
Paxton Tries to Stop Federal Protections for Trans Students Before School Starts
Originally published in the San Antonio Current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wants a nationwide injunction against federal protections for trans kids in schools. On Tuesday, Paxton announced the coalition of states Texas is leading in litigation against the federal government filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against a U.S. Department of Education and…
Equality Texas Commemorates First Anniversary of Supreme Court Ruling
On June 26, Equality Texas will host events in Austin and Dallas to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on same-sex marriage and to honor those whose lives were lost in the Orlando tragedy. The year since the ruling on equal marriage has been filled with highs and lows. There…