Texas House Speaker Joe Straus says that a transgender bathroom bill “. . . isn’t the most urgent concern of mine . . . I know the lieutenant governor is very enthusiastic about this idea. Let him run with it. We’ll see what the House wants to do.” Straus, a Republican who represents San Antonio’s…
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…
Bernal Files First Pro-LGBT Bill of Texas Legislative Session
By Daniel Williams, Guest Contributor And we’re off! The first pro-LGBT bill of the session was filed by Rep. Diego Bernal (D-San Antonio) and it’s HB 192. The bill would prohibit discrimination in housing on the basis of gender identity or expression and sexual orientation. HB 192 is identical to Rep. Bernal’s HB 2860 filed…
SA Lawmakers File Anti-Bullying Law
On November 14, State Senator Jose Menendez and State Representative Ina Minjarez will introduce a law aimed at preventing and combating cyber-bullying. The bill is being filed on the first day legislation can be introduced for consideration by the 85th session of the Texas Legislature. The new measure, dubbed David’s Law, is named after David…
After the Vote: Looking for Silver Linings
By Daniel Williams, Guest Contributor Well, it looks like we have a President Trump, and a Republican House and Senate, and will soon have a Republican Supreme Court. Before you break out the hemlock or start booking your Canadian “vacation” here’s some rays of light, particularly as we head into Texas’ next legislative session: In…
SA Small Businesses Join Effort Against LGBT Discrimination
Members of San Antonio’s small business community were on hand on October 25 for a press conference at the Havana Hotel where Equality Texas released a letter signed by over 200 small businesses from across the state voicing their opposition to any legislation which would legalize discrimination against LGBT Texans or visitors to Texas. Present…
Political Ad Suggests Candidate Is “Well Known” in Houston Gay Bars
The race for the Texas Legislature just hit a new low in the Republican runoff for Houston’s District 128. A flier linked to the campaign of 72-year-old incumbent state Rep. Wayne Smith was recently leaked to the media, insinuating his opponent, 31-year old Briscoe Cain is gay. The anti-LGBT flier features two men kissing in…
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…
State Rep. files bill to deny marriage licenses to Texas same-sex couples
Updated Jan.8,2015, 7:20 p.m. Perhaps anticipating that marriage equality could soon be a reality in Texas, a member of the state House of Representatives has submitted a bill that would deny the funding and issuing of marriage licenses for same sex couples. State Rep. Cecil Bell Jr., a Republican from Magnolia, Texas is the author…