In order to complement and further our work across the state, Equality Texas is proud to announce the members of our inaugural Emeritus Board:
Steve Atkinson
Kim Biffle
Katie Coyne
D. Scott Elliff, Ed.D
John Hintz
Jo Ivester
Holt Lackey
Aekta Malhotra
Tina Maness
Elizabeth Myers
Mark Niermann
Mark Sadlek
Karen Wilkerson
As the 2023 Texas Legislative session draws to a close, it leaves behind a record-breaking number of attacks on LGBTQ+ people and anti-trans legislation. With these ceaseless attacks, anti-LGBTQ+ extremists have tried to silence, intimidate, and invalidate us. However, at every step, LGBTQ+ Texans and allies have shown up and shown resistance. During this time, pain and anger are the dominant emotions that fuel us. But it’s important to acknowledge that queer joy is resistance, too.
Queer joy is a moment of pure celebration for what sacrifices were made to arrive where we are and hopes for what is next. Queer joy is being able to be yourself or experience others being themselves without fear of rejection in a diverse and powerful community. Queer joy is different from pride, as it is a deep joyfulness that fills queer lives with an abundance of warmth and purpose. Queer joy can help sustain us against what feels like never-ending hate. Queer joy is the courage, tenacity, and action taken by our fellow LGBTQ+ Texans and allies.
Here are a few moments of queer joy our Equality Texas team experienced during the 2023 Texas Legislative session.
On the capitol steps for All In For Equality Advocacy Day, one Equality Texas team member felt queer joy when Cynthia Lee Fontaine performed drag, and another felt it at The Queer March on the Capitol as the resource fair connected folks to resources and LGBTQ+ affirming organizations.
Others felt queer joy while waiting for their names to be called for testimony against Senate Bill 14 as folks got their nails done, took portraits, watched movies, and sang Karaoke. One Equality Texas team member shared that this was his favorite moment of queer joy because it entertained people and gave them a reason to laugh and be silly together.
A week later, after a long day of work at the capitol, advocates met at a park and passed around a megaphone to share stories of queer joy. One person shared that they experienced queer joy when someone approached them to say that they knew how to drop a card because of them. Another person shared that being able to show up and fight for queer youth the way they needed someone to show up and fight for them when they were a kid gave them queer joy. Others shared that they felt queer joy when surrounded by queer Texans and allies who care about what is happening to our community. Finally, another person shared that they had recently reflected on how they used to go to the capitol in 2011 and 2013 and see the same ten queer people at every hearing, and now realizing that there will never be that few people again and that gave them queer joy.
Another Equality Texas team member shared that a moment of queer joy she experienced was while tabling at a drag/wrestling event and at a roller derby bout. “Both were filled with beautiful queer people working together, in competition and in performance. The whole crowd was thrilled to be in community,” she explained. Another team member shared that she felt queer joy when over 2,000 people showed up to stand against HB1686 and when she stayed up late-night painting the “Let Trans Kids Grow Up” banner. Another moment of queer joy she shared was when she locked arms with her trans siblings at the capitol and chanted in unison for trans rights.
Despite the many challenges of the 2023 Texas Legislative session, LGBTQ+ Texans and allies have demonstrated unwavering resilience. Amidst the pain and anger of the past few months, the power of queer joy has shined through and has propelled us forward. These moments of queer joy serve as reminders of the progress made and the strength of the LGBTQ+ community. Queer joy is a testament to the collective queer Texan spirit that will continue to drive the fight for equality forward, ensuring that a chorus of a resilient community replaces the bygone days of few queer voices.
Written by Anna Ellis, 2023 Communications Intern, Equality Texas
A statement from the All In For Equality Coalition (ACLU of Texas, Equality Texas, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, Texas Freedom Network, Transgender Education Network of Texas):
SB 12, the Drag Ban, has gone through a lot of changes recently. After language explicitly mentioning drag was removed from the bill, we’d like to explain why this bill is still bad for Texas.
We want to be clear, just because the House version doesn’t specifically mention drag, this doesn’t mean the final law won’t explicitly ban drag. This bill started as a drag ban, and at its core, this bill has always been an attack on LGBTQIA+ Texans. Drag is an artistic way to challenge gender norms and create safe spaces for people who don’t fit neatly into gender stereotypes. Even before the bill has passed, we are already seeing a chilling effect around drag performances. One lesbian bar in Houston was denied insurance because they regularly host drag shows.
No matter what the final language looks like, the Attorney General will have the authority to enforce this bill. And we’ve already seen how eagerly he pushes the limits of the law to target the LGBTQIA+ community. Looking at his record, there’s no reason to believe he’ll even read the bill before doing whatever serves his political interests.
If passed, SB 12 could have devastating consequences not only for the LGBTQIA+ community but for art across the state. Imagine Pride without drag queens, theater without romance, and choreography without chemistry. It’s already difficult for small-town Pride celebrations across Texas to access venues and facilities, but SB 12 could create additional barriers to creating the safe spaces that LGBTQIA+ Texans desperately need. This bill directly infringes upon our freedom of expression and opens a dark chapter in American history that should cause alarm for every single Texan.
This bill started as an attack on the LGBTQIA+ community, and it continues to perpetuate the idea that there’s something scandalous or taboo about the lives of LGBTQIA+ people. We can all agree that we don’t want children to be exposed to harmful content. But this bill isn’t designed to protect children, it’s designed to suppress the LGBTQIA+ community.
We have documented over 20 incidents against drag throughout the state, many of which included armed protestors and white nationalists with anti-semetic nazi symbolism. Texans are already subjected to these dangerous displays without the existence of a bill rooted in shutting down joyful celebrations of our community.
We’re not going to pretend this bill isn’t harmful, just because the language changed a little. We’ve been around long enough to spot a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Open Letter from 100+ Orgs Defending LGBTQ+ Texans
We all want to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of our races, backgrounds, and genders. But today, certain politicians are pushing laws that restrict our freedoms because of the color of our skin, what’s in our wallets, or because we are LGBTQIA+. They exploit divisions and fears among us so they can get and hold onto power, denying us the basic rights, resources, respect, and safety all people deserve.
Since 2020, opponents of equality have pursued a nationally coordinated strategy to spread disinformation and fear about the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly transgender people. These attacks are meant to stoke fear about LGBTQIA+ people and perpetuate stigma. This stigma fuels identity-based harassment, bullying, discrimination, violence, rejection, and assault of LGBTQIA+ individuals. For transgender people specifically, stigma and vigilante hysteria has led to the fortification of barriers that have made access to adequate housing, jobs, healthcare, and identity documents nearly impossible.
We, the signers of this letter, as organizations who serve Texas and the nation oppose anti-LGBTQIA+ extremist efforts to invalidate the existence of our neighbors. LGBTQIA+ people are our siblings, teachers, faith leaders, youth, employees and more. They are part of the fabric of this state and contribute to its richness. Attempts to villainize the LGBTQIA+ community do not align with true Texas values of friendship, family, and community. We believe each one of us should have the freedom to define ourselves, pursue our dreams, make private family decisions without government intrusion, and have a good and happy life — without exceptions.
We envision a state where LGBTQIA+ Texans can visibly live, work, contribute to our communities, and access crucial resources that allow them to thrive.
Texans deserve lawmakers who represent us all and grant us the dignity and respect we deserve. We deserve lawmakers who will focus on efforts to improve our lives. We deserve a fair shot at prosperity, access to health care, safe and affirming public schools, and active community support to access vital resources that allow us to thrive.
Signed,
Press contact: johnathan.gooch@equalitytexas.org
Tonight at the State of the State, Governor Abbott outlined his ambitions for the 88th Legislative session. One of his emergency priorities is “Educational Freedom.” While describing his own upbringing in Texas schools, he was nostalgic for a vision of our country as “the beacon of liberty and opportunity.” A few short breaths later, he openly railed against “wokeism” in schools and committed to protecting the “rights of parents.”
While the Governor did not take the time to define his terms, we can safely assume that his use of “wokeism” was derisive. However, if the options are either to be “woke” or to be asleep to the realities of Texans in the 21st century, then we will wear the stamp of “wokeness” with pride. Whether or not a child is LGBTQ+, they deserve to learn about the beautiful diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. Having those conversations at an early age instills habits of respect and compassion—values that all Texans hold dear.
The Governor touted his plan to extend “parental rights”—a cunning way to pretend that every parent is included, but there is an invisible asterisk. The fine print excludes thousands of LGBTQ+ Texans. We’ve seen lawmakers use the notion of “parental rights” to empower a vocal minority of parents to veto lessons about different types of families, if it makes them uncomfortable. All parents want their kids to grow up learning compassion and respect. We must trust teachers to translate the complexity of Texans’ lives into age-appropriate lessons about the beautiful panoply of people that live in this state, including LGBTQ+ people. LGBTQ+ young people have a right to learn about the long struggle for equality, the challenges we still face today, and the joys of being queer. If the governor wants Texas to be a beacon of liberty, why does it look like he favors censorship?
We believe in the vision that Governor Abbott cast of his childhood schools. While the Governor pines for a time when people of different backgrounds and genders were not treated with equal dignity and respect, we strive for a Texas where all are included. We can be a beacon to the world—a beacon of liberty. We do that by acknowledging the brilliant diversity of our state. The responsibility that comes with being such a vibrant state is that our public schools must prepare students to live and work among the diverse population that will one day be their peers and colleagues.
Press Contact:
Johnathan Gooch, Equality Texas, (512) 922-4040, johnathan.gooch@equalitytexas.org.
January 10, 2023
This year, we have already seen more anti-LGBTQ+ bills filed than in the 2021 regular session, even before the gavel has fallen. During 2021 millions of LGBTQ+ Texans found their private lives at the center of a very public debate. Our coalition has a simple message for our elected officials in the capital: The dignity of LGBTQ+ people is not up for debate. We are committed to fighting and defeating every bill that would harm, silence, or erase our community. We have always risen to the challenge and will continue to do so for our communities.
Texas legislators have assembled a slate of invasive bills that spy on our teachers, pry into our medical decisions, and dictate our brunch entertainment. They call us radical, consider for yourself: Is it radical to believe that kids should learn about the world ahead of them, including the stories of LGBTQ+ people? Is it radical that families and doctors should be able to make private medical decisions without the government looking over their shoulder? Is it radical to believe that business owners, not politicians, should decide when and whether to host a drag performance?
Year after year we have proven that the love of our community is stronger than any ounce of hate. Our community is resilient, but we shouldn’t have to be. Our organizations are committed to preserving fundamental Texas values: privacy, dignity, and family. We will be championing bills that address homelessness in our community, comprehensive statewide nondiscrimination, and laws that secure the dignity and safety of trans people, who face a very real risk of violence in this state.
Our coalition today brings news of an age-old truth: LGBTQ+ people are just like every other Texan. We want to live our lives free of government intrusion, enjoy the nature and beauty of our state, and eat good bbq. And we know that Texans have our backs.
Statement from Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas:
“While bills as absurd as the Drag Tax seem like a joke, there is nothing funny about the surveillance state that Texas lawmakers hope to enforce this legislative session. School classrooms are being censored for all references to LGBTQ+ characters. Young people are being denied health care that could save their lives and parents prosecuted for loving their children. We believe in dignity for all Texans, and we will not sit idly by while our LGBTQ+ neighbors are being stripped of their basic rights.”
Statement from Transgender Education Network of Texas, Executive Director, Emmett Schelling (he/him/his) :
“This legislative session like the countless ones before, TENT is ready to make a show of force, Texans are done being sold to the highest bidder by our states leaders. The Transgender Education Network of Texas and our equality coalition continue to fight for the dignity for all Texans, and with the wind at our backs and history of resilience, we are ready. Trans Texans live in pride and beautiful authenticity, no matter the battle we face. Texas continues to break records for the most anti progressive bills filed, Trans Texans and our allies continue to break records stopping them.”
Statement from Oni Blair, ACLU of Texas executive director:
“LGBTQIA+ Texans are a part of this state and will never stop living openly and authentically. But the current onslaught of political attacks against LGBTQIA+ Texans — particularly transgender and intersex youth — is devastating and needs to stop. We must join together to fend off these cruel attacks and fight for a Texas where every person can live and thrive.”
Statement from Shelly Skeen, Senior Attorney, Lambda Legal:
“To date, no less than 35 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been pre-filed for the 2023 Texas state legislative session. These bills criminalize doctors and parents who support and provide best-practice health care for trans youth, ban correcting gender markers on birth certificates, target drag shows, censor classroom content including restricting the discussion of human sexuality, and ban transgender k-12 and college students from participating in interscholastic and collegiate sports. The target could not be more obvious, and the real danger to the health and lives of transgender youth more dire. However, as was true during the 2021 Texas legislative onslaught, Lambda Legal stands ready alongside our Texas partners to do all we can to stem this tide of anti-LGBTQ+ hate and ensure all Texans – including LGBTQ+ Texans and Texans living with HIV – are protected at home, in school, and at work.”
Statement from Texas Freedom Network President Val Benavidez:
“Going into this legislative session, we already know there are politicians in this state who somehow cannot see the beauty added to our state by the LGBTQIA+ community. Last session, they did everything they could to target LGBTQIA+ Texans–taking aim at transgender kids and harming innocent children just to score political points. Their cruelty continued in 2022 when loving families were attacked for providing their trans children with lifesaving medical care. The lives of Texans are not political playthings. As we enter this session, we’re dedicated to drowning out these vicious attacks with love and action as we advocate for inclusive, equitable policies that expand the rights of LGBTQIA+ Texans.”
Statement from Preston Knight, Texas Organizing and Coalitions Lead, the Human Rights Campaign:
“Power-hungry anti-equality politicians in the Texas state house are once again bullying LGBTQ+ children and terrorizing our families. These politicians are spreading hateful propaganda and creating more stigma, discrimination, and violence against transgender and non-binary people just to rile up extremist members of their base.
“Before legislative session gaveled in today, anti-equality members in the Texas legislature continued their attacks on LGBTQ+ Texans with more discriminatory legislation. These bills are not solving problems Texans face on a daily basis. They’re crafted with the harmful goal of seeking to block LGBTQ+ Texans’ access to life-saving medical care; our right to make choices about our own bodies; our right to dignity; and frankly, our right to exist.
“The Human Rights Campaign is dedicated and invested in Texas, with staff on the ground, working with in-state partners to defeat this legislation and protect the lives of LGBTQ+ Texans.”
###
Equality Texas is the largest statewide organization working to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Texans through political action, education, community organizing, and collaboration.
The Transgender Education Network of Texas is the largest statewide, BIPOC trans-led, trans- focused policy, education, and advocacy organization in the state of Texas.
Founded in 1995, the Texas Freedom Network is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization of more than 150,000 religious and community leaders who support religious freedom, individual liberties and public education.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas is the leading civil rights organization in the Lone Star State. Since our formation in 1938, we have worked in the courts, the legislature, and through public education to protect civil rights and individual liberty.
Lambda Legal, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
The Human Rights Campaign envisions a world where every member of the LGBTQ+ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear, and with equality under the law. We empower our 3 million members and supporters to mobilize against attacks on the most marginalized people in our community.
My beloved Texans,
On Saturday evening, we hosted our Somewhere Over the Rainbow Gala. It was a joyous night celebrating the richness, talent, and history of our community. A few short hours later we woke up to the devastating news about the shootings in Colorado on Transgender Day of Remembrance. We join all Americans mourning for the loss of our LGBTQ+ family in Colorado.
An affirming word can save a young person’s life. And every hateful word contains the seeds of violence. Politicians and public figures who spew hate against their neighbors must be held accountable for the actions of their followers. In the wake of a tragedy like this, we must commit to nonviolence in action and in word. So, when you hear hate, speak up.
An unapologetic reproach of hate requires all of us. We have to meet the urgency of this moment, and get pissed off. We can lead with love and joy, but we have a right to be angry. Because apathy does not win battles—action does.
What role will you play in our liberation? What role will you play to ensure trans young people can access life saving healthcare, that trans people can thrive and live free from fear, that intersex young people are not subjected to nonconsensual surgeries, that teachers can speak the truth about race, sexual orientation, and gender identity in schools, and that we can live without the threat of violence?
When you understand where we come from, what we have achieved even while living on the margins, you witness our fortitude. Our power has always come from the people—from every vote, every person that shows up at the Capitol, every choice to live authentically, every couple that creates a family, and our love for our neighbors—that cannot be erased, it cannot be invalidated.
We will fight until we see full equality for all Texans.
In Solidarity,
Ricardo Martinez (he/him)
CEO
Equality Texas
Over the last year LGBTQ+ Texans have been under constant attack by our state’s top political leaders. These politicians have cultivated a climate that has endangered lives, they’ve aligned themselves with vigilante hate groups, white nationalists, and they have targeted our safe spaces, our celebrations, and our families.
This election was about sending a message that no matter who holds the reins of power in our state, LGBTQ+ Texans and our allies will never stop pushing for a better future. With every phone call made, every text message sent, every door knocked, and every vote cast, we delivered that message.
While we did not win every election or change the balance of power, there were victories that deserve to be celebrated.
With the election of Christian Manuel-Hayes and Venton Jones, and Jolanda Jones, the House LGBTQ+ Caucus will grow in size and influence. Because of their wins, we now have more openly LGBTQ+ members in the Texas House than at any other point in our state’s history. That’s worth celebrating.
And there’s more to celebrate:
The Equality Texas 501(c)(4) endorsed 88 candidates for state-level positions, most running for Texas House or Texas Senate. Seventy three percent of our endorsed candidates won their races outright, with 80% of our endorsed candidates successfully securing election to the Texas Legislature. During redistricting, the Republican controlled Legislature redrew lines to try to keep State Representative James Talarico from returning to the Texas House. Talarico, an unapologetic champion for LGBTQ+ equality, relocated to House District 50 and was elected to the new district overwhelmingly. We look forward to continuing to work with Representative Talarico.
In Collin County’s House District 70, Equality Texas-endorsed candidate Mihaela Plesa will be heading to Austin as the new State Representative of this recently redistricted seat. Plesa defeated an opponent who supports dangerous anti-trans sports bans, adding another voice in the Legislature that will defend LGBTQ+ Texans.
House District 92 was once represented by one of the most prolific anti-LGBTQ legislators in Texas. On Election night, this Tarrant County seat was won by Equality Texas-endorsed candidate Salman Bhojani who garnered 58% of the vote. Bhojani will join Dr. Suleman Lalani as the first Muslim State Representatives in Texas.
In July of this year, Congress voted on the ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ which would have codified same-sex marriage into law. Representative Mayra Flores, who was the newly elected Congresswoman to Texas Congressional District 34, voted against marriage equality. Flores was handily defeated on Election night by Congressman Vicente Gonzalez who voted in support of codifying same-sex marriage into law.
We have all watched local school boards transform into battlefields against extremists who want to ban books, censor LGBTQ+ identities and unseat school board members who dare to disagree with their goal of imposing “conservative Christian” nationalism on every school district in Texas. Thankfully, that agenda did not appeal to voters in places like Austin ISD, Round Rock ISD or Manor ISD. When anti-LGBTQ+ organization, ‘Moms for Liberty’ put their candidates on the ballot, voters outright rejected them. Thankfully, we have seen the re-election of pro-education champions like Tiffanie Harrison in Round Rock ISD and Arati Singh in Austin ISD.
In a state as big as Texas, elections have an outsized impact. For help breaking down the results, join us next Wednesday at 7pm for a deeper dive into what the results mean for LGBTQ+ Texans.
Thanks to everyone who volunteered their time and to everyone who showed up to the polls, our power is growing, and you are the proof of that.
Last week, Beto O’Rourke and Greg Abbott went head to head in the only debate before voting starts in the Texas governor’s race. They talked about a lot of issues that impact people in Texas across the LGBTQ+ community and more. We believe an informed electorate is essential to getting the right people in positions of power. If you haven’t watched it yet, you can do so below. Share with your friends and family who are undecided or on the fence. Remember, statewide elections can’t be gerrymandered. Every vote counts.
Contact: Johnathan Gooch, Communications Director, Equality Texas, johnathan.gooch@equalitytexas.org
Equality Texas, the largest nonpartisan statewide political advocacy organization working for the elimination of discrimination against the LGTBQ+ community, today endorses the following openly LGBTQ members of the LGBTQ caucus.
“The LGBTQ caucus has been a team of staunch allies and advocates in dark times. Having so many openly LGBTQ members of the house is a comfort to queer Texans across the state,” said Rachel Hill, Government Affairs Director at Equality Texas. “We couldn’t do our work without these champions of equality.”
Equality Texas is proud to endorse:
###
Equality Texas is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, serving as the largest nonpartisan statewide political advocacy organization working for the elimination of discrimination targeting the LGTBQ+ community. This work occurs primarily within, but not limited to, odd-numbered years when the Texas Legislature is in session. During the session, Equality Texas works to advance the rights of LGBTQ+ Texans alongside pro-equality legislators and protects LGBTQ+ Texans from legislative attacks.
Like Equality Texas on Facebook!
Like on Facebook