A proposed bill in the Texas Senate (SB 15), which would deny cities the ability to enact paid sick leave ordinances, also contains provisions that would also allow the state to gut the enforcement of non-discrimination ordinances. When it was originally filed by state Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), SB 15 was designed to prevent cities…
A Bungled Strategy in the Case of Kenne McFadden’s Death
San Antonio’s transgender community is angered and bewildered at how the man who admitted to pushing a local trans woman into the San Antonio River, where she drowned, was found not guilty of criminal conduct in a probation hearing. Mark Daniel Lewis was indicted for manslaughter last year by a Bexar County grand jury for…
Protest Planned After Judge Rules Kenne McFadden’s Death Not a Crime
LGBT activists are planning to protest after a local judge ruled that the actions of a man who pushed a transgender woman into the San Antonio River, thus causing her to drown, did not constitute criminal conduct. State District Judge Joey Contreras’ ruling took place during a probation revocation hearing for Mark Daniel Lewis who…
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Star to Appear at Equality Advocacy Day in Austin
Sara Ramirez, who formerly appeared on the hit TV show, “Grey’s Anatomy,” will be in Austin on March 20 as part of All In For Equality Advocacy Day. The event, which is being presented by Equality Texas, ACLU of Texas, Human Rights Campaign, Texas Freedom Network, and Transgender Education Network of Texas, will include a…
The Trans Teacher: Brandon Beck Educates Texas
When his kindergarten teacher asked the students to line up by gender, Brandon L. Beck was confused. Did he belong in the line for boys or girls? He was assigned female at birth, but preferred acting like the boys, despite the ridicule. It was the late 1970s, and very little was known about being transgender.…
‘Give Out Day’ Raises Funds for Local LGBT Nonprofits
On August 2, over 500 LGBT nonprofit organizations from all 50 states will be participating in a national day of giving dubbed Give Out Day. Throughout the day-long event, LGBT nonprofits, ranging from the arts to social services agencies, advocacy groups to sports leagues, community centers to health care nonprofits will be soliciting funds for…