The high court also raised questions about why the state opened these investigations in the first place, noting that the child welfare agency is not bound by directives from the governor. By Eleanor Klibanoff, Texas Tribune Texas’ child welfare agency remains blocked from investigating the family of a transgender teen that sued the state in…
Texas schools rethink gender-based dress code policies after discrimination claims raise new legal issues
Recent high-profile incidents and lawsuits have led some districts to make their dress code policies more gender- and race-neutral. By Allyson Waller, The Texas Tribune “Texas schools rethink gender-based dress code policies after discrimination claims raise new legal issues” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans —…
A Houston Judge Could be Elected First Gay Justice on Texas Supreme Court
A state district court judge from Houston will be on the ballot in November as a candidate for the Texas Supreme Court and if he wins, he will become the first openly gay justice on state’s highest court and the first openly LGBTQ statewide official in Texas history. Democratic Judge Steven Kirkland of Harris County’s…
A Teacher Says a Coworker Grabbed Her “Behind.” The Texas Supreme Court Tossed Her Lawsuit.
By Shannon Najmabadi, The Texas Tribune April 6, 2018 Catherine Clark claims that a coworker barraged her with lewd and harassing comments while Clark was working as a gym teacher at the Alamo Heights Independent School District about a decade ago. She complained to her supervisors, then to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and was…
U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Consider Houston Fight Over Same-Sex Marriage Benefits
By Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune December 4, 2017 Denying the city of Houston’s request, the U.S. Supreme Court will not review a June decision by the Texas Supreme Court, which ruled that the landmark decision legalizing same-sex marriage does not fully address the right to marriage benefits. The high court on Monday announced it…
Openly gay judge announces run for Texas Supreme Court
A state district court judge from Houston has announced his candidacy for a seat on the Texas Supreme Court, a move which makes him the first openly gay candidate to run for the state’s highest court. Judge Steven Kirkland of Harris County’s 334th Civil District Court made his announcement on Thursday, October 12. He will…
Texas Supreme Court Throws Out Ruling That Favored Same-Sex Marriage Benefits
By Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune June 30, 2017 Editor’s note: This story has been updated throughout. The Texas Supreme Court on Friday threw out a lower court ruling that said spouses of gay and lesbian public employees are entitled to government-subsidized same-sex marriage benefits. The state’s highest civil court ordered a trial court to…
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…
Activists Denounce Lawsuit that Seeks to Block Benefits to Married Same-Sex Couples in Texas
Texas LGBT activists have filed amicus briefs in a case pending before the Texas Supreme Court (Pidgeon v. Harris) where the City of Houston’s ability to provide spousal benefits to married same-sex couples is being challenged. The case, brought against the City of Houston by anti-LGBT lobbyists Jonathan Saenz and Jared Woodfill, would specifically block…
Texas Supreme Court to Hear Case Attacking Benefits of Married LGBT Couples
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. On Friday, the Texas Supreme Court changed its mind about hearing a case threatening the rights of married gay couples in the state. The case, brought against the City of Houston by anti-LGBT lobbyists, would specifically block same-sex spouses of government employees from receiving any health benefits (benefits…