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For Immediate Release: Texas Equity PAC Endorses Eliz Markowitz
Posted on October 15, 2019 at 11:52 am

Contact: Angela Hale, Equality Texas  angela@equalitytexas.org

Texas Equity PAC Endorses Eliz Markowitz

Markowitz would be the sixth openly queer woman elected to the state legislature; Endorsement released alongside Human Rights Campaign and Texas Freedom Network

Austin, TX (October 15, 2019) – Today, the Texas Equity PAC, the political action committee of Equality Texas,the largest statewide organization solely dedicated to securing full equality for LGBTQ Texans, endorsed Democratic House Candidate Dr. Eliz Markowitz in the Special Election for Texas House HD 28. This is the seat formerly held by Dr. John Zerwas in Ft. Bend County. The Texas Equity PAC helps elect pro-equality state & local candidates.  This endorsement was released alongside our Texas partners Texas Freedom Network and Equality Texas. 

 “We have an opportunity to create a state that reflects our values and priorities. We must come together and fight for the state we want. Now is the time to act with our vote. It is our civil right and our civic duty. Eliz Markowitz is a pro-equality candidate and represents the type of representative we want in the Texas Legislature. In addition to Dr. Markowitz being an openly gay candidate, she is running on a platform of equality and anti-discrimination,” said Angela Hale, Acting CEO of Texas Equity PAC.

“As a member of the LGBTQ community and lifelong educator, Markowitz will be an important addition and necessary voice for equality in the Texas Legislature,” said HRC Texas State Director Rebecca Marques. “Without federal or state protections, LGBTQ Texans need more leaders in Austin working to protect them. We have a lot of work to do to make Texas a fairer and more equal place, and we’re glad to take on the fight to create a pro-equality majority in the statehouse starting with electing Eliz Markowitz.”

“The dozens of discriminatory bills filed at the Texas Legislature in recent years and the cases pending at the U.S. Supreme Court show there is still much more work to be done before we can say LGBTQ people in this state truly have full equality,” said TFN 21st Century Education PAC Political Director Carisa Lopez. “We need people like Eliz in Austin defending the rights of LGBTQ Texans and fighting for the kinds of pro-equality policies — like employment and housing protections — that polling shows are supported by a clear majority of Texans. TFN PAC fully supports Eliz Markowitz because she is clearly the best candidate in the HD28 special election.”

During the 2019 Texas legislative session, there were 23 anti-LGBTQ bills filed. With the leadership of the newly created LGBTQ Caucus, the Texas legislative session concluded with only one anti-LGBTQ bill, SB 1978, being passed into law. SB 1978 was originally filed as a broad, sweeping anti-LGBTQ bill. However, after concerns raised by the LGBTQ Caucus, advocates and other organizations, significant changes were made to the bill. 

The LGBTQ caucus was started by five women in the House: State Rep. Mary González, Rep. Celia Israel, Rep. Jessica González, Rep. Julie Johnson and Rep. Erin Zwiener. Several of the members identify as openly LGBTQ. Should Markowitz be elected, she would join the caucus as its sixth member. 

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The Texas Equity PAC helps elect pro-equality state & local candidates. It is the political action committee of Equality Texas, 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.