Columnist Gilbert Garcia of the San Antonio Express News reports that former City Councilwoman Elisa Chan, who expressed anti-LGBTQ views while she was in office, says she wants to run for the Texas House District 122 seat currently held by Lyle Larson. “Chan, 55, says she’s definitely running if Larson steps aside,” Garcia writes in…
Texas GOP’s bills targeting transgender children have exacted a mental health toll, even if they don’t become law
As the clock ticks on this year’s legislative session, the House scheduled a Tuesday floor debate for a bill that would limit transgender children’s sports team participation. Other GOP bills that would restrict or punish transition-related health care, like puberty blockers, missed a key Sunday deadline to advance. By Megan Munce, The Texas Tribune Houston…
Texas Senate Advances Bill Allowing Adoption Agencies to Discriminate Against LGBT Parents
Originally published in the San Antonio Current In the midst of what the Governor has called a foster care “crisis” in Texas, state Senators voted to tentatively approve a bill to make it easier for religious adoption agencies to turn away prospective parents. Sen. Charles Perry’s House Bill 3859 would grant state foster care and…
Texas House Approves Bill Allowing Denial of Adoption by Same-Sex Couples
On Tuesday, May 9, the Texas House approved House Bill 3859, which would allow faith-based adoption agencies to deny placement of foster children with same-sex couples, Jews, Muslims and others based on “the provider’s sincerely held religious beliefs.” The bill, dubbed the “Freedom to Serve Children Act,” passed by a vote of 94 to 51.…
Texas House Bill Would Allow Denial of Same-Sex Couples as Foster Parents
On, Wednesday, March 29, the Texas House State Affairs Committee had a hearing on House Bill 3859 which would allow faith-based groups to deny placement of foster children with same-sex couples and others if it’s against the groups’ religious beliefs. The bill is authored by Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, vice chairman of the House…