By Matthew Watkins, The Texas Tribune June 22, 2017 Saying that a new Texas law allowing child welfare providers to deny adoptions to parents based on “sincerely held religious beliefs” is discriminatory, California’s attorney general on Thursday banned state-funded travel to Texas. The attorney general’s office said in a news release that Texas’ House Bill…
T-Shirt Sale Raises Funds to Fight Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill
Omaze, a company that raises funds for nonprofits, and Equality Texas are teaming up on a fundraiser to help fight the anti-trans bathroom bill, which will be considered during the special session of the Texas Legislature, by selling t-shirts that read, “You can pee next to me.” The t-shirt sale is part of a campaign…
UT/TT Poll: Texas voters weigh in on importance of “bathroom bill”
By Ross Ramsey, The Texas Tribune June 19, 2017 The “bathroom bill” that preoccupied the Texas Legislature for the first half of the year is important to only 44 percent of the state’s voters — and “very important” to only 26 percent, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. During the regular session,…
Texas Governor Signs Bill Denying Adoption to Same-Sex Couples
Texas Governor Greg Abbot signed House Bill 3859 on June 15, allowing 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 was authored by Rep. James Frank (R-Wichita Falls), vice chairman of the House Human Services Committee. According…
Texas lawmakers, “bathroom bill” opponents prepare for round two
By Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune June 6, 2017 Among the Elder family’s dinnertime conversations last year was nailing down which sports their son Ben wanted to try out over the summer. This summer, another conversation topic — whether their 11-year-old transgender son will lose the right to use the boys’ bathroom at school —…
David’s Law Ready for Governor’s Signature
A law aimed at preventing and combating cyber-bullying is headed to Texas Governor Greg Abbot’s desk after receiving a majority of votes in the House of Representatives and an unanimous vote in the Texas Senate. The new measure, Senate Bill 179, is dubbed David’s Law after David Molak, a 16-year-old Alamo Heights High School student…
Patrick, Straus deadlocked over “bathroom bill”
By Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune May 26, 2017 Editor’s note: This story has been updated throughout. The Texas Legislature appears to be at a stalemate on a “bathroom bill” that could push the legislative session into overtime. Refusing to go any further to regulate bathroom use for transgender Texans, House Speaker Joe Straus said…
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 bathroom restrictions for transgender students
By Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune May 21, 2017 Editor’s note: This story has been updated throughout. Amid threats of a special legislative session over the “bathroom bill,” the Texas House on Sunday took a last-minute vote to approve a proposal that would keep transgender students from using school bathrooms that match their gender identity.…
House Spars Over Whether New State Bar Rules Would Open Door to Discrimination
By Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune May 15, 2017 As part of an ongoing push by some Republicans to insert religious freedom protections into state agency review bills, House lawmakers on Monday sparred over attempts to amend the State Bar of Texas sunset bill in a way that opponents say could open up prospective LGBT…