This past Wednesday, October 6, the House Constitutional Rights and Remedies Committee passed HB 25, the most recent version of the anti-transgender sports ban, on a party line vote.
Nearly 300 Texans turned out to oppose HB 25 compared to barely 50 people who supported the bill (many from outside of Texas). These numbers reflect what we know: the majority of Texans believe discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is wrong.
Equality Texans gathered to protest HB 25 before the hearing on Wednesday.
Each of those nearly 300 Texans had a different perspective, and the hearing itself was a beautiful display of those many stories:
Courageous transgender children missed school once again to tell their bullies in the legislature why inclusion and acceptance is so important to them. Their parents opened up about how traumatic the past 10 months have been, constantly returning to the Capitol to beg for their humanity.
Cisgender youth reminded the committee that they don’t see their trans friends as a threat to their success or safety, but they do see the emotional toll of the constant legislative attacks.
Teachers, principals, and school board members reiterated that trans kids playing sports has never been a problem in their schools, unlike the escalated anti-LGBTQ+ bullying that’s creeping into their classrooms.
Transgender adults shared their own journeys with belonging, knowing who they are, and the vital importance of simple respect and affirmation.
Mental and behavioral health professionals presented heart-wrenching statistics about the mental health consequences of invalidating a child’s gender identity and quantitative evidence from crisis hotlines of how this debate has profoundly impacted kids.
Legal experts walked us through how anti-transgender sports bans violate the constitutional rights of transgender youth while exposing how supporters of the bill have grossly misrepresented any minuscule success by a transgender athlete as “domination.”
Faith leaders provided moral support, reminding us that transgender people are perfect just the way they are.
Businesses came out to testify that HB 25 is just one in a long line of anti-LGBTQ+ bills that create a hostile culture in Texas, repelling talented workers who value diversity and respect.
And Texas LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, including Equality Texas, held lawmakers accountable for the dramatic rise in the last year of anti-LGBTQ+ bullying, harassment, and even assaults across the state.
Trans, nonbinary, and intersex kids need us to be active allies.
Add your voice and tell the Calendars Committee not to move HB 25.
Despite the committee vote, our community and allies made the strongest case this year for the sheer unwarranted cruelty of the bill. This overwhelming opposition is an essential tool for slowing down the bill’s momentum and will help us tremendously in the days moving forward.
We wouldn’t have this tool if it were not for you. Whether you attended the protest, registered a position, sent a message to lawmakers, testified for the first time or the 9th — you made a real difference this week. Thank you. We see you and we know how hard this year has been and are in awe of your resilience and steadfast hope. We will continue to do everything we can to keep anti-transgender legislation from becoming law.
The bill still has several steps to go. The Calendars Committee will soon have to decide whether to set HB 25 for a floor date to debate the bill in the full House. There are only 12 days left in this special session. Let’s give them everything we’ve got.
Contact: Debi Jackson | debi.jackson@equalitytexas.org,
Angela Hale | angela.hale@equalitytexas.org
October 7, 2021 – AUSTIN, TEXAS – Equality Texas, the largest statewide organization solely dedicated to securing full equality for LGBTQ+ Texans, today released a statement on the House committee passage of HB 25. Ricardo Martinez (he/him), Chief Executive Officer of Equality Texas, released the following statement:
“The Texas Legislature launched an unprecedented attack on the LGBTQ+ community during the regular legislative session which has continued now for three special sessions. This unrelenting attack on innocent children is cruel. Despite unequivocal evidence of the harm filing, hearing, and debating anti-trans bills has caused trans kids and their families and overwhelming community opposition, the bill was passed (8-4) out of the Constitutional Rights & Remedies Committee. 291 Texans registered their opposition to HB 25 while only 55 registered support. These numbers reflect what we know — the majority of Texans believe discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is wrong. Common sense policy doesn’t seek to harm Texans or ignore the negative implications of bills being proposed. Transgender children participating in sports is not a national emergency or a Texas emergency; these attacks on trans kids and the ongoing trauma to the trans community certainly are. This is unconscionable. We will continue to show up to the Capitol in opposition of these bills and will do everything we can to ensure they are defeated once and for all.”
###
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.
Contact: Debi Jackson | debi.jackson@equalitytexas.org,
Angela Hale | angela.hale@equalitytexas.org, Emmett Schelling | info@transtexas.org
The Human Rights Campaign, Equality Texas, the Transgender Education Network of Texas, the ACLU of Texas, Lambda Legal and Texas Freedom Network will be hosting a rally on the South Steps of the Texas Capitol in opposition of HB 25 and to honor the nearly 4,000 transgender and nonbinary youth in Texas who have had to reach out to crisis call centers this year, with many directly stating that they are feeling stressed and considering suicide due to anti-trans laws being debated in Texas.
WHAT: Rally and Advocacy Day
WHEN: Wednesday, October 6, 2021 | 10:30AM
WHERE: South Steps of the Texas Capitol
Austin, Texas – October 6, 2021 – Equality Texas, Human Rights Campaign the Transgender Education Network of Texas, the ACLU of Texas, Lambda Legal, and Texas Freedom Network will be hosting a rally on the South Steps of the Texas Capitol in opposition to HB 25 on October 6th at 10:30AM.
Debating bills like HB 25 puts trans and LGB youth at further risk. Crisis hotlines are already reporting dire mental health consequences of the debate about the dignity of transgender youth. The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ+ hotline, recently reported that calls from Texas youth are up 150% compared to 2020. The report also shares that “transgender and nonbinary youth in Texas directly stated that they are feeling stressed, using self-harm, and considering suicide due to anti-LGBTQ laws being debated in their state.” It is the collective goal of the aforementioned organizations to protect and affirm the innate humanity of all trans and LGB people, as such we will be rallying at the capitol to ensure our lawmakers prioritize the affirmation and protection of transgender Texans.
Ricardo Martinez (he/him), Chief Executive Officer of Equality Texas, said “Since the session began, we have learned of incident after incident where transgender kids and adults are attacked verbally, physically and sometimes fatally for simply being themselves. The relentless effort by lawmakers to dehumanize transgender people has contributed to creating unwelcoming spaces for trans Texans. Whether it’s school, work, or accessing public accommodations, transgender Texans do not deserve to worry about their safety and well-being. Ignoring the harm caused by these bills to prioritize hypothetical emergencies is nothing short of negligent leadership.”
Rebecca Marques (she/her), Texas State Director, Human Rights Campaign, said, “Holding yet another hearing demonstrates just how hard legislators are working to pass a discriminatory harmful bill that is opposed by thousands of Texans, educators, businesses, medical experts, and more. This time, the House is trying something new: while one version of the bill, SB 3, proceeds along the traditional route of jurisdiction through the House Public Education Committee, an identical version, HB 25, is taking a different path through this newly created Select Committee, and the Select Committee is moving fast. Despite deep exhaustion from speaking out against these repeated attempts to pass anti-trans legislation, supporters of LGTBQ+ equality have been tireless in their efforts to ask Texas legislators to stop targeting trans children.”
Emmett Schelling (he/him), Executive Director of the Transgender Education Network of Texas, said “This is an emergency. The alarming uptick of mental health anguish trans people are in is a direct result of decisions lawmakers have made at the Capitol. We hope that the unequivocal evidence of the harm caused by these bills and the record 75+ anti-LGBTQ+ bills (50+ of them anti-trans) filed this year will help lawmakers do right by trans Texans, instead of attacking them.”
Val Benavidez (she/her), President and Executive Director, Texas Freedom Network, said: “Texans deserve better than leaders who bully kids as a way to distract from their catastrophic failures on critical issues, like a virus that has killed more than 66,000 Texans and a broken power grid they still haven’t fixed even after millions of us were left freezing in the dark last winter. But here they go again, spending precious time and resources to pass laws targeting transgender kids for discrimination. Transgender students participating in sports at school isn’t a threat to anyone. Failed leadership is.”
Adri Perez (they/them), Policy & Advocacy Strategist, ACLU of Texas, said: “For the seventh time this year, the Texas Legislature is attempting to pass an unnecessary and unconstitutional bill that will cause undeniable harm to children. Similar laws have already been declared unconstitutional in courts around the country yet Texas continues to place a cruel and relentless target on transgender kids and their families. Anyone who votes for this bill will be rejecting the recommendations of women’s sports experts and the will of the people — all for the senseless purpose of unlawfully discriminating against kids. No child should have to defend their right to be respected equally.”
Shelly Skeen (she/her), Senior Attorney for Lambda Legal, said: “Targeting transgender students by excluding them from athletic programs, as HB 25 intends, stigmatizes them, not just in athletics but in every aspect of their school lives. Transgender young people are no different from their peers — they want to play and be a part of a team, just like any other student. In addition to being a cruel policy that is a solution in search of a problem, it is sex discrimination in violation of federal law and puts the State of Texas, as well as its over 1000 school districts, at great risk of liability.”
Excluding transgender children from normal school activities fuels a culture of bias that puts kids in danger: Transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming students are at greater risk of experiencing hostile climate and discrimination in school already. Failing to support transgender student athletes only perpetuates a culture of bias. Choosing not to protect transgender youth by ignoring the unequivocal evidence the impact anti-trans bill debates have on innocent children is cruel and irresponsible.
###
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.
The Texas Freedom Network (tfn.org) is a grassroots organization of religious and community leaders and young Texans building an informed and effective movement for equality and social justice.
By inspiring and engaging individuals and communities, the Human Rights Campaign strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people plus community members who use different language to describe identity are ensured equality and embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
Lambda Legal is the oldest and largest national legal organization whose mission is to achieve 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 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.
Contact: Debi Jackson | debi.jackson@equalitytexas.org
Angela Hale | angela.hale@equalitytexas.org | 512-289-2995
Crisis counselors have fielded over 14,500 calls, texts, and online messages from young LGBTQ Texans looking for support in the last year. Despite the crisis young LGBTQ+ people are in as a result of the debate being had about their humanity — lawmakers continue their relentless and cruel attack on innocent children.
Austin, Texas – October 5, 2021 – Equality Texas, the largest statewide organization solely dedicated to securing full equality for LGBTQ+ Texans, today responded to HB 25, the anti-transgender sports ban being scheduled for a hearing. Ricardo Martinez (he/him), Chief Executive Officer of Equality Texas, released the following statement:
“For months, we have been ringing the alarm about the unequivocal harm that filing, hearing, and debating anti-trans bills has had on our community. Placing invented hypothetical scenarios over the real harm these bills have already caused transgender children and adults and their families reveals the intent of policies like this: cruelty. What we worried most about is happening now — the relentless bullying we have witnessed at the Capitol has trickled down to our schools. In September alone, we received close to twenty incident intakes for support. These include a Lamar County middle schooler who was viciously beaten by a classmate at a school-sponsored event because he was gay. The attacker taunted the boy by saying, “…you want to be a girl.” The victim is cisgender. A trans middle schooler in Austin attempted to take her own life after being bullied mercilessly by a classmate about her gender identity. A Wichita ISD teacher was pressured to release names of students who use names and pronouns different from their enrollment forms, “outing” transgender kids. The Trevor Project received nearly 4,000 crisis contacts from transgender and nonbinary youth in Texas in 2021 — a 150% increase over the same period last year — with many directly stating that they are feeling stressed and considering suicide due to anti-trans laws, including sports bans, being debated in our state. These are real kids and real lives and should not continue to be treated as political fodder, session after session. Trans and LGB people do not deserve to live under constant threat and fear of their safety and well-being. We will continue to show up to the Capitol in opposition of these bills and will do everything we can to ensure they are defeated once and for all.”
###
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.
This week three anti-transgender sports bans were referred to House committees, moving one step closer to becoming law. Although the three bills, SB 3, HB 10, and HB 25 are nearly identical, they were referred to two separate committees: the Public Education committee and the Constitutional Rights and Remedies committee. The next step for these bills is for the chair to set a public hearing, generally with only 24 hours notice.
The hearing will likely be the last chance for the general public to voice opposition to the bills. Our goal is to drive more people to the hearing than ever before, overwhelming lawmakers with the truth: that Texans do not support the constant targeting of transgender kids.
The longer this debate continues, the more lies about who transgender people are saturate this state. Anti-transgender sports bans push the lie that transgender kids are a “threat” that cisgender kids must be protected from, directly fanning the flames of transphobia in our state, and terrifying trans Texans who are just trying to live their lives.
We’re seeing the consequences. The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ+ hotline, recently reported that calls from Texas youth are up 150% compared to 2020 and that “transgender and nonbinary youth in Texas directly stated that they are feeling stressed, using self-harm, and considering suicide due to anti-LGBTQ laws being debated in their state.”
Let trans youth in Texas know that you support them by participating in the House hearing. Sign up here to commit to advocacy on what will be one of the most important hearing dates this year in LGBTQ+ rights in Texas. Whether you have 10 minutes or a few hours, you can do so much! Drop a card to formally enter your opposition against the bill, testify, make office visits, or simply rally to make noise and cheer on testifiers on their way to deliver testimony.
Despite the relentless attacks on the LGBTQ+ community in the Capitol this year, youth in Texas are showing us a brighter future. Last week, students in Irving’s MacArthur High School staged a walkout after LGBTQ+ safe space stickers were removed from campus, and this week students at Temple High School walked out in solidarity with their transgender classmate after she was denied the use of the girl’s restroom.
These kids are courageously embodying leadership, empathy, and love by wielding their power to support their LGBTQ+ classmates. They are directly combatting homophobia and transphobia on the ground — from adults — and demanding change in their communities.
This year has been particularly brutal — with more than 70 bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, 50+ of those bills directly focused on transgender kids, and multiple laws enacted that curtail our the rights and safety of all Texans. But these kids in Irving and in Temple have shown what happens when we band together, push back, and keep fighting.
Keep fighting with us as we continue to show legislators the strength, persistence, and determination of our community. If you can’t attend hearings in-person, remember you can submit written testimony, call your legislators, and register formal positions for the public record. Everything makes a difference, and only together can we hold the line against every anti-LGBTQ+ measure legislators throw at us.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: EQUALITY TEXAS AND THE TRANSGENDER EDUCATION NETWORK OF TEXAS TO LEAD DEMONSTRATION AGAINST HB 10, HB 25, AND SB 3.
Contact: Debi Jackson | debi.jackson@equalitytexas.org,
Angela Hale |angela.hale@equalitytexas.org, Emmett Schelling | info@transtexas.org
Crisis lines have received nearly 4,000 contacts from transgender and nonbinary youth in Texas this year, with many directly stating that they are feeling stressed and considering suicide due to anti-trans laws being debated in Texas.
WHAT: Texans Deserve Better: Demonstration in opposition to HB 10, HB 25 & SB 3
Equality Texas, the Transgender Education Network of Texas, ACLU of Texas, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal and the Texas Freedom Network will host a demonstration in protest of anti-transgender bills HB 10, HB 25 and SB 3 outside of the House Chambers.
WHEN: Thursday, September 30, 2021 | 10:30AM – 12:00PM
WHERE: Outside of the House chambers
Austin, Texas – September 29, 2021 – Equality Texas, the largest statewide organization solely dedicated to securing full equality for LGBTQ+ Texans, and The Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT), the largest statewide, BIPOC trans-led, trans-focused policy, education, and advocacy organization in the state of Texas, released the following statements:
“With the anti-trans bills HB 10, HB 25 and SB 3 now referred to two House committees, we’re looking at the potential of double the harm to families: double the anxiety, the worry, the lost hours from work and school spent testifying and asking to be treated with dignity. Equality Texas and our community partners the Transgender Education Network of Texas, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, ACLU of Texas, and Texas Freedom Network are committed to supporting our community in having their voices heard via testimony and through public demonstrations designed to shed light on how this unrelenting assault on trans young people and public debate about their humanity is already doing harm. Enough is enough,” said Ricardo Martinez (he/him), Chief Executive Officer of Equality Texas.
“The Trevor Project received nearly 4,000 crisis contacts from transgender and nonbinary youth in Texas in 2021 — a 150% increase over the same period last year — with many directly stating that they are feeling stressed and considering suicide due to anti-trans laws, including sports bans, being debated in our state. This is nearly identical to what happened in 2017, when a bathroom bill in a special session — one with a lot of co-sponsors — caused record spikes in crisis contacts. This is an emergency. The mental health anguish trans people are in is a direct result of decisions lawmakers have made at the Capitol. They can choose to see us, and to legislate considering the negative implications we have presented to them time and time again. We hope that the unequivocal evidence of the harm caused by these bills and the record 75+ anti-LGBTQ+ bills (40+ of them anti-trans) filed this year will help lawmakers do right by trans Texans, and focus instead on real problems,” said Emmett Schelling (he/him), Executive Director of TENT.
###
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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: EQUALITY TEXAS RELEASES STATEMENT ON TEMPLE HIGH SCHOOL WALKOUT
CONTACT:
Angela Hale | 512.289.2995 | angela.hale@equalitytexas.org
Debi Jackson | debi.jackson@equalitytexas.org
September 29, 2021 – AUSTIN, TEXAS – Equality Texas, the largest statewide organization solely dedicated to securing full equality for LGBTQ+ Texans, today released comment on Temple High School students’ courageous walkout in solidarity with their transgender classmate who reports experiencing a hostile school climate.
“Findings from the GLSEN 2019 National School Climate Survey demonstrate that Texas schools are not safe for most lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) secondary school students. More recently, the Trevor Project released findings that they received nearly 4,000 crisis contacts from transgender and nonbinary youth in Texas in 2021 — a 150% increase over the same period last year — with many directly stating that they are feeling stressed and considering suicide due to anti-trans bill being debated in our state. This moment in time requires thoughtful inquiry and reflection about how schools can best support transgender children who are juggling being a kid, a global pandemic, living authentically, and the weight of cruel legislative attacks. School-based supports such as school personnel who are supportive of LGBTQ+ students and their identities, GSA student clubs, access to facilities that match a student’s gender identity, and LGBTQ-inclusive curricular resources can positively affect school climate for LGBTQ+ students and their peers. The absence of these supports can have detrimental effects on the mental health of youth and contributes to the development of hostile school climates experienced by all students. We should be working to create supportive and affirming environments in our schools that allow all people on campus, including LGBTQ+ students, to focus on academic success. It is our duty to ensure this goal is realized. Equality Texas is steadfast in our commitment to foster safe and inclusive environments where all LGBTQ+ Texans can live authentically and achieve their fullest potential. We applaud Temple High School students for their courage to stand in solidarity with their classmates and modeling what compassion, understanding and unconditional love look like,” said Ricardo Martinez (he/him), Chief Executive Officer of Equality Texas.
###
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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: EQUALITY TEXAS STATEMENT ON THREE ANTI-TRANSGENDER SPORTS BILLS BEING REFERRED TO HOUSE COMMITTEES
CONTACT:
Angela Hale | 512.289.2995 | angela.hale@equalitytexas.org
Debi Jackson | debi.jackson@equalitytexas.org
September 22, 2021 – AUSTIN, TEXAS – Equality Texas, the largest statewide organization solely dedicated to securing full equality for LGBTQ+ Texans, today responded to three anti-transgender sports bills being referred to House committees. Ricardo Martinez (he/him), Chief Executive Officer of Equality Texas, released the following statement:
“We’re disappointed that we are here for a fourth session defending the humanity of innocent transgender children in Texas. We will do everything in our power to stop these bills from becoming law. I don’t want to have to look into the faces of parents of transgender kids and tell them that their state leaders have failed to protect their children. I remain hopeful that we will be able to defeat all of the anti-transgender bills. Placing invented hypothetical scenarios over the real harm these bills have already caused transgender children is cruel. The Trevor Project received nearly 4,000 crisis contacts from transgender and nonbinary youth in Texas in 2021 — a 150% increase over the same period last year — with many directly stating that they are feeling stressed and considering suicide due to anti-trans laws, including sports bans, being debated in our state. These are real kids and real lives and should not continue to be treated as political fodder, session after session. Trans and LGB people do not deserve to live under constant threat and fear of their safety and well-being.”
###
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.
Exactly on cue this year, the season changed. The Texas legislature, however…
The assault on children’s privacy, dignity, and humanity continues in the third-called special session. SB 3, the same anti-trans sports ban we’ve fought each session this year, has passed through the Texas Senate.
Equality Texas has fought alongside community activists and partner organizations against this hateful legislation in FOUR sessions this year, and we will continue to try to hold the line for as long as the Governor prioritizes this baseless attack on trans kids. We still have plenty of hope, but need to replenish our resources — will you donate to the Special Session Fund today?
Although we’ve fought back legislation so far this year, the continued bullying of trans children by Texas’ elected officials has led to a marked increase in incidents of bullying of trans and LGB students in schools across Texas. Wednesday, MacArthur High School students in Irving protested the removal of “safe space” stickers by walking out of school. At the direction of the school district, teachers were instructed to remove any visible items indicating that they are supportive of their LGBTQ+ students. Also this week, a brave student from Onalaska approached Equality Texas about their school district’s humiliating and discriminatory treatment of male-identified students who wear makeup and nail polish, even though the dress code makes no mention of it. This incredible student organized a petition signed by over half of the student body to stop any further punishment for the administration’s outdated understanding of “appropriate dress”.
These stories are becoming more common. And while we applaud leadership of these courageous students, this should not be their reality. Equality Texas will continue to respond to these situations of bullying and harassment by helping to mobilize local communities to create change and fighting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation at the Texas Capitol.
On Monday, the first day of the third special session, Equality Texas organized a unique and powerful protest outside the House Chamber in collaboration with TENT, HRC, ACLU of Texas, Lambda Legal, and TFN. Nearly 100 activists demonstrated by holding signs of individual anti-LGBTQ+ bill numbers from the multiple sessions this year.
Over 75 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been filed by the Texas Legislature in 2021. Community activists displayed each bill number in a demonstration outside of the House Chamber on the first day of the third special legislative session.
During Monday’s demonstration, we were alerted that SB 3 would be heard by the Senate the next day. Equality Texas and partner organizations once again gathered activists on Tuesday outside of the Senate Chamber to boycott the hearing and advocate instead by having 89 witnesses register in opposition to SB 3 and make our voices heard all the way inside the Senate Chamber from the halls.
Equality Texas held a press conference on Monday, gathering parents, athletes, and transgender Texans to share their stories about how SB 3 and legislation like it does and would impact their lives.
Equality Texas’ lobbying work is fundamental to holding the line against continued attacks on trans kids at the Texas Capitol. Although we budgeted for the possibility of a special session in 2021, we couldn’t have imagined a second and third. As you begin to plan for the upcoming giving season, please consider also supporting our Special Session Fund, which enables us to continue to rally, protest, and educate lawmakers that trans rights are human rights.
Thanks for your continued support and advocacy. Happy Fall, y’all.
CONTACT:
Angela Hale | 512.289.2995 | angela.hale@equalitytexas.org
Debi Jackson | debi.jackson@equalitytexas.org
September 23, 2021 – AUSTIN, TEXAS – Equality Texas, the largest statewide organization solely dedicated to securing full equality for LGBTQ+ Texans, today released a statement on MacArthur High School students’ courageous walkout in protest of teachers being forced to take down “safe space” stickers on their classroom doors.
“A safe space sticker is a symbol that lets LGBTQ+ young people know that they have supportive adult allies at school who they can turn to should they ever need support. School administrators and educators have made a commitment to keep all students safe, not just some. Removing symbols that help LGBTQ+ students feel affirmed and seen sends a dangerous message to LGBTQ+ kids and their peers — and promotes a hostile school climate. Research is clear, 94% of Texan LGBTQ+ students hear anti-LGBTQ+ remarks from other students in Texas Schools. School-based supports such as school personnel who are supportive of LGBTQ+ students, GSAs, and LGBTQ-inclusive curricular resources can positively affect school climate for LGBTQ+ students. Actively limiting these supports can have detrimental effects on the mental health of youth.”
2021 is the worst year for LGBTQ+ state legislative attacks across the country and in Texas, as an unprecedented number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills, especially bills targeting transgender children, were filed — 76 in total. These bills represent a cruel effort to further stigmatize and discriminate against LGBTQ+ youth.
The debate about the humanity of LGBTQ+ people at the state legislature, especially the fear mongering about the lives of trans people has fueled a culture of bias and discrimination that is now trickling down into our schools. The Trevor Project’s 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health found that 94% of LGBTQ+ youth reported that recent politics negatively impacted their mental health. Since the nationally coordinated attacks on transgender youth by state legislatures began, Equality Texas has seen a marked increase of bullying and violence against transgender youth and discriminatory disciplining of teachers. For example, Boerne ISD requested the resignation of a nonbinary teacher because of complaints that stem from their gender identity and use of Mx nonbinary honorific, a Wichita Falls High school administrator publicly misgendered and dead-named a trans student in the cafeteria in front of the student body, and a pansexual freshman in Royse City and her group of friends were approached at lunch by a fellow student who read anti-gay scripture to them and proceeded to spray them with “holy water” in an effort to make them feel their sexualities and gender identities were disgraceful. The removal of safe space stickers from MacArthur High School is just the most recent example of many impacting LGBTQ+ young people.
In the last year alone, Trevor’s crisis counselors have fielded over 14,500 calls, texts, and online messages from young LGBTQ+ Texans looking for support. At a time when LGBTQ+ young people need our support the most, the removal of symbols of safety are misguided and cruel. We should all be working to create supportive and affirming environments in our schools that allow all people on campus, including LGBTQ+ students, to focus on academic success. It is our duty to ensure this goal is realized. Equality Texas is steadfast in our commitment to foster safe and inclusive environments where all LGBTQ+ Texans can live authentically and achieve their fullest potential. We applaud MacArthur High School students for their courage.
###
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.
Like Equality Texas on Facebook!
Like on Facebook