I am so excited to share with you that the House just passed HB 679, the homeless youth study authored by our friend, Rep. Sylvester Turner! This is a huge victory! An estimated 40% of homeless youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Rep. Turner’s bill will help the state better understand the needs of this vulnerable population and identify untapped funding sources to help them. Equality Texas sent hundreds of emails, made dozens of office visits, and lined up witnesses who testified on how this bill personally affects their lives. Your gifts during our Advocacy Challenge Match and use of our Action Center to contact your representatives made this win possible!

Our loyal supporters who offered the week-long $5,000 challenge match are so excited about this positive momentum that they’re EXTENDING the match for another day and making it a $6,000 match! The extended match ends at midnight TONIGHT- will you pitch in $20, $50, $100 or more right now to help us sustain this positive momentum in the Texas Legislature?

Success in June will be defined by killing all 22 anti-equality bills proposed this session. Passing an Equality Texas endorsed bill like HB 679 in a defensive session like this one is no small feat. Thanks to your support, today we can celebrate the difference your gifts and actions have made! We need your continued support as HB 679 progresses to the Texas Senate so that at the end of the 84th Session we can celebrate again. Your equality contributions fuel our daily work fighting harmful legislation and advancing a state in which all Texans can live, love, work, and grow to their full potential.

Thank you for building a state of equality with us!

Chuck Smith