Contact: Debi Jackson | debi.jackson@equalitytexas.org, 

     Angela Hale | angela.hale@equalitytexas.org

October 25, 2021 – AUSTIN, TEXAS – Equality Texas, the largest statewide organization solely dedicated to securing full equality for LGBTQ+ Texans, today released a statement on Gov. Abbott’s signing of anti-transgender HB 25. Ricardo Martinez (he/him), Chief Executive Officer of Equality Texas, released the following statement:

“We are devastated at the passage of this bill. Despite the powerful advocacy and testimony of trans kids and adults, families and advocates, and the many emails and calls our community placed to the Governor’s office to veto this harmful piece of legislation, it is now law. Most immediately, our focus is our community and integrating concepts of healing justice to provide advocates who have already been harmed by this bill with spaces to refill their cup and unpack the acute trauma caused by these legislative sessions. Our organization will also begin to shift focus to electing pro-equality lawmakers who understand our issues and prioritize representing the vast majority of Texans who firmly believe that discrimination against trans and LGB+ people is wrong.

“It’s been a long and brutal fight, but we will not stop fighting to protect our community and secure the nondiscrimination protections we need so that all young people can thrive and live out their fullest potential. Trans kids and adults in Texas — and everywhere — deserve love and support, peace of mind, healthcare, happiness, to be carefree and focus on living out their greatest potential. They deserve not to be debated but affirmed and the right to exist without their government trying to push them out of everyday life. Trans people and their futures are sacred.”

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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.