Contact:

Angela Hale | angela.hale@equalitytexas.org

Kara Watkins-Chow | kara.watkinschow@berlinrosen.com

IN THE MOST EXTREME ANTI-LGBTQ+ SESSION IN TEXAS HISTORY, TEXAS HOUSE ADVANCES SPORTS BAN TARGETING TRANSGENDER CHILDREN

AUSTIN (October 14, 2021) — Today, the Texas House passed HB 25, an anti-transgender sports ban targeting innocent school-age children. Equality Texas, the largest statewide organization solely dedicated to securing full equality for LGBTQ+ Texans, responded:

“The passage of HB 25 is a hateful, targeted attack on transgender people living in Texas,” said Ricardo Martinez (he/him), Chief Executive Officer of Equality Texas. “Extremists in our Legislature have continuously leveraged cruel rhetoric and rampant misinformation to coordinate this attack on the transgender community — young children in particular — and have sent a clear message that Texas is not a safe place for them to live. 

“HB 25 singles out transgender children and permanently prohibits them from the foundational opportunities that sports provide children, like camaraderie with friends and learning lessons about teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy exercise. It is yet another attack in a long year that has already been the most harmful legislative year on record for LGBTQ+ Texans, with over 50 bills targeting their health, safety, and humanity. Throughout four traumatizing legislative sessions, we’ve seen increased requests for help from families facing anti-LGBTQ+ threats as a result of this hostile climate. The “debate” over this anti-transgender bill is already exacerbating intolerance, fueling discrimination, and solidifying Texas’ reputation as the leading state for violence against trans people. 

“As the legislative process continues, and HB 25 moves to the Texas Senate, we will not stop fighting to protect transgender children. We’ll continue to educate lawmakers — replacing misinformation with real stories — and demand the statewide and federal nondiscrimination protections we need to prevent further harms. Transgender kids, adults, and their families are not political collateral. They deserve every fundamental right and opportunity that all other Texans have. Our lawmakers have a responsibility to do their job and enact policies that help all Texas families thrive, rather than perpetuating targeted oppression against young children and their families.” 

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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.