Lambda Legal has settled a lawsuit in the case of Passion Star, a black transgender woman who experienced repeated rapes, physical assaults and an attack with a razor while she was incarcerated in all-male prisons in Texas. The agreement, which was announced on March 15, includes a monetary settlement and an update to the state…
Austin Car Dealership Appeals District Judge’s Ruling in Case of Outed Trans Employee
An Austin car dealership is appealing the decision of a U.S. District Court judge who ruled the company cannot dismiss the claim of invasion of privacy made by a fired employee who says management openly discussed his transgender status with fellow employees. On January 31, District Judge Lee Yeakel denied the Roger Beasley Automotive Group’s…
Judge Rules Austin Car Dealership Cannot Claim Free Speech After Outing Fired Trans Employee
A federal magistrate judge has preliminarily ruled that an Austin car dealership cannot use the right to free speech as a way to dismiss the claims of invasion of privacy made by a fired employee who says management “openly discussed his status” with his fellow workers. On August 1, Bradley R. Rudkin, the former general…
Man Sentenced in Murder of Texas Trans Woman
A 30-year-old man from Childress, Texas has been found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in jail for the 2016 murder of a 43-year-old Austin transgender woman. During the trial, which began in late October, JonCasey Rowell admitted to shooting Monica Loera at close range in what he said was an act of self-defense. Rowell…
Transgender Day of Remembrance to be Observed in SA on Nov. 16
San Antonio’s LGBT community will come together to observe the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 16 with events slated for downtown San Antonio. The evening begins at 6 p.m. when Pride Center San Antonio presents a Memorial Celebration of Lives Lost in Travis Park. At 7 p.m., the observance moves indoors for a service…
Austin Car Dealership Says First Amendment Gives Company Right to Out Trans Employee
Updated: October 19, 2017 4:00 p.m. This article was updated to include replies from Beasley Automotive and from Mr. Rudkin’s attorney. A car dealership in Austin, which is being sued for discrimination by a transgender employee, says freedom of speech gave the company the right to out the employee to other staff members. On August…
Trans Texans’ Military Dreams on Hold Under Trump Administration
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. In January, Misty Brandon’s 24-year-old son sold his furniture and his truck and moved from San Antonio to Colorado with one goal in mind: To join the military in June. That’s because in June, the U.S. Department of Defense was going to officially let openly transgender people enroll…
Texas Bathroom Bill Appears to Be All But Dead in Special Session
By Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune August 11, 2017 Despite it serving, in part, as the reason lawmakers are back in Austin for legislative overtime, the Texas Legislature could very well gavel out next week without passing a “bathroom bill.” With just days left in the 30-day special legislative session, controversial proposals to regulate bathroom…
Trump’s Military Ban Rattles Trans Troops, Veterans in Military City, USA
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. On Wednesday morning, San Antonio army veteran Danny Ingram got a worried call from a friend in the Air Force. “She had seen the news and was scared, suddenly it felt like her job was on the line,” said Ingram. The call came a few hours after President…
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Supports “House Companion” to “Bathroom Bill”
By Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune April 28, 2017 HOUSTON — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick expressed support Friday for “a House companion” to the Texas Senate’s “bathroom bill” that has been one of his biggest priorities this session. “Senate Bill 6 — or a House companion — we need to pass,” Patrick said during remarks…