Activists from seven different community organizations are planning to picket Texas Governor Greg Abbott during his “Broken But Unbowed Texas Book Tour” in McAllen, Texas on May 26. Aquí Estamos, the Texas Freedom Network, South Texans for Reproductive Justice, Curando RGV, Valley AIDS Council, PFLAG Harlingen, and Call To Action RGV will participate in the…
Commentary: Obama Administration Is Right on Transgender Issues
By Guest Contributor Dani Marrero Hi, Organizer, Aquí Estamos Aquí Estamos commends the directive of President Barack Obama to recognize the right of transgender students in public schools to use the restroom that matches their gender identity. While access to public facilities based on gender identity was already protected by federal law under Title IX,…
This Week’s Biggest Asshats in the ‘Bathroom’ Debate
As the debate over which public bathroom transgender people should be allowed to use continues, one thing has become increasingly clear: The people arguing against such rights have little to zero knowledge of what it means to be transgender. From politicians to television sports analysts, many have weighed in with poorly informed opinions. Here’s a roundup…
SA Trans Dad Takes Child Custody Case to Texas Supreme Court
A San Antonio transgender man, who has twice been denied standing to seek child custody and visitation rights by the Fourth Court of Appeals, has taken his case to the Texas Supreme Court, according to a February 18 announcement. Dino Villarreal helped raise two boys from infancy while in a committed 17-year relationship with Sandra…
Feds Send SA Trans Man to Women’s Prison
Out In SA has learned that a transgender man from San Antonio has been placed in a women’s federal prison even though he legally changed his name and gender marker before his imprisonment. Celvin Anthonie Carrillo, 31, was sentenced last year to serve 46 months in federal prison for conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants into…
Alamo Colleges Trustees to Finally Vote on Trans Protections
Almost six years after the Alamo Colleges board of trustees voted to add sexual orientation to the district’s nondiscrimination policy, a vote will taken on February 23 to add gender identity and expression as a protected class. The nondiscrimination policy covers students, faculty and employees at Alamo Colleges’ five campuses. (Links to relevant documents are…
Sec. Castro supports HUD’s proposed Gender Identity Rule
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro is taking to social media with a video in support of HUD’s Gender Identity Rule which was proposed on November 20, the Transgender Day of Remembrance. In the short video, Castro says, “Everyone deserves to live with dignity regardless of their gender…
MCC to host Transgender Day of Remembrance
The Metropolitan Community Church will once again host the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance observance in San Antonio on November 19. The day honors the memory of those murdered because of anti-transgender prejudice. The Transgender Day of Remembrance was originally started to commemorate the murder of Rita Hester in 1998. Hester was stabbed to death…
SA attorney offers free help with trans name and gender marker changes
San Antonio attorney Justin P. Nichols announced today he will start offering free legal assistance with name and gender marker changes for transgender people in Bexar County. Gender marker and name changes are necessary for trans people in order to assure that documents like driver’s licenses, passports and other legal instruments reflect their true gender…