INSIDER
Feds investigate another Texas school district for its gender identity mandate
Read full article: Feds investigate another Texas school district for its gender identity mandateKaty ISD’s board voted this past fall to require staff to notify parents if their child wants to use a different pronoun or identifies as a different gender.
Terrified and angry, LGBTQ Texans and allies rally at Capitol to protest bills targeting queer community
Read full article: Terrified and angry, LGBTQ Texans and allies rally at Capitol to protest bills targeting queer communityWith six weeks remaining in the legislative session, advocates implored Texans to join the “resistance” against fast-moving efforts to curb health care, drag queens, education, trans athletes and more.
The eyes of LGBTQ Texans are upon Dade Phelan and the House
Read full article: The eyes of LGBTQ Texans are upon Dade Phelan and the HouseSpurred by a groundswell of far-right support, the Texas Senate has passed all of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s priority LGBTQ bills — and then some. What the House does next will impact queer Texans’ lives and could determine Speaker Phelan’s future.
West Texas A&M University president cancels student drag show, saying it degrades women
Read full article: West Texas A&M University president cancels student drag show, saying it degrades womenStudents and First Amendment lawyers say President Walter Wendler’s portrayal of drag shows is off base and the cancellation violates free-speech rights.
Conservative lawmakers push for review of school board group’s guidance on transgender students
Read full article: Conservative lawmakers push for review of school board group’s guidance on transgender studentsTexas Freedom Caucus asked Attorney General Ken Paxton to weigh in on school board association’s guidance for navigating complex issues related to transgender youth.
“I want to fight”: LGBTQ Texans ready for legislative session as GOP lawmakers target them in dozens of bills
Read full article: “I want to fight”: LGBTQ Texans ready for legislative session as GOP lawmakers target them in dozens of billsRepublicans are backing legislation targeting gender-affirming care for children, classroom lessons about sexuality and drag shows.
Transgender Texas kids are terrified after governor orders that parents be investigated for child abuse
Read full article: Transgender Texas kids are terrified after governor orders that parents be investigated for child abuseSome experts doubt that classifying gender-affirming care as child abuse would hold up in court, but families still feel targeted by Gov. Greg Abbott’s new order
South Texas Pride Q&A: Statewide advocacy organization fights against anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the Legislature
Read full article: South Texas Pride Q&A: Statewide advocacy organization fights against anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the LegislatureAdvocates for the LGBTQ+ community say they are fighting to keep transgender children from losing their ability to participate in sports at school and fighting a number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the Texas Legislature.
Texas Senate bill restricting transgender students’ sports participation stalls in House committee, casting doubts on its fate
Read full article: Texas Senate bill restricting transgender students’ sports participation stalls in House committee, casting doubts on its fateGender-affirming medical treatment for transgender kids would be considered child abuse under Texas Senate bill
Read full article: Gender-affirming medical treatment for transgender kids would be considered child abuse under Texas Senate billTexas lawmakers advance bills blocking access to gender affirming health care despite opposition from LGBTQ Texans, medical associations
Read full article: Texas lawmakers advance bills blocking access to gender affirming health care despite opposition from LGBTQ Texans, medical associationsTransgender Texas children, their parents, medical groups and businesses have vocally opposed many of the bills lawmakers are pursuing.
Family fights anti-trans bills at Texas Capitol: “I will walk through fire to see my child be happy”
Read full article: Family fights anti-trans bills at Texas Capitol: “I will walk through fire to see my child be happy”Texas Republicans want to keep transgender women out of women’s school sports teams
Read full article: Texas Republicans want to keep transgender women out of women’s school sports teamsOne Texas bill is similar to others filed across the country that are characterized by conservative advocates as trying to maintain fairness in women’s sports. Idaho passed a law last year called the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.” In Montana, a similar bill, called the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” advanced to the state Senate this week. AdTexas lawmakers have tried to limit school sports for transgender students before. Charles Evangelista, a transgender man and student at the University of North Texas, was in high school when lawmakers debated the so-called bathroom bill. Disclosure: Equality Texas, Texas A&M University, the University of Houston and the University of North Texas have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.
Texas-based LGBTQ+ rights group: Supreme Court anti-discrimination decision is step forward
Read full article: Texas-based LGBTQ+ rights group: Supreme Court anti-discrimination decision is step forwardSAN ANTONIO A local equality group called Monday's Supreme Court decision against LBGTQ+ discrimination in the workplace a step in the right direction. I think this is a step forward, said Equality Texas CEO Ricardo Martnez, referring to the 6-3 Supreme Court vote, which ruled that a 1964 civil court decision barring workplace discrimination for various reasons, including race and gender, must also extend to sexual orientation. Supreme Court says gay, transgender workers protected by lawMany say the ruling offers unprecedented protection to members of the LGBTQ+ community nationwide. And days ago, the Department of Health and Human Services rolled back transgender health care protections put in place while former President Barack Obama was in office. Equality Texas, along with its coalition partners, is working on trying to pass a comprehensive nondiscrimination law that protects LGBTQ+ people in currently unprotected areas.
Organization releases report detailing state of equality for LGBTQ Texans
Read full article: Organization releases report detailing state of equality for LGBTQ TexansAUSTIN, Texas – Equality Texas, the largest statewide organization that works to secure equality for LGBTQ Texans, released a new report Wednesday that details the state of equality for those individuals. The organization said despite this, some LGBTQ Texans are still struggling to access their right to vote. Equality Texas said it is supporting Senate Bill 151, House Bill 244 and House Bill 254, which are comprehensive nondiscrimination bills that have been filed in the Texas Legislature. To access the full report by Equality Texas, click here. To see Equality Texas’ new conference, click on the video below.