We have seen a flood of anti-LGBTQ bills filed by far-right lawmakers in the Legislature so far this session. But today Rep. Jessica González, D-Dallas, and state Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, filed legislation that would extend discrimination protections in Texas law to LGBTQ people. As we say in this press release, passage of these bills would represent a big step forward for equality for all in the state.
Legislation from Rep. González, Sen. Menéndez Would Update State’s Nondiscrimination Laws to Included Protections for LGBTQ Texans
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2021
Legislation filed today to update the state’s nondiscrimination laws by including protections for LGBTQ Texans would be a big step toward ensuring equality for all in the state, Texas Freedom Network President Val Benavidez said today.
“Protecting people from discrimination is about treating others as we would want to be treated, with fairness, equality and respect,” Benavidez said. “Updating our state’s nondiscrimination laws will help ensure that LGBTQ Texans have a fair opportunity to earn a living, find a home, provide for themselves and their families, and build a better life.”
The companion bills, HB3860 by state Rep. Jessica González, D-Dallas, and SB1540 by state Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, would extend nondiscrimination protections in state law to LGBTQ people in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
Currently, Texas is one of 27 states in which there are no statewide protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Even worse, Republican state lawmakers so far have filed more than a dozen bills this session that would require discrimination against young transgender Texans and allow religion to be used as a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people more broadly.
“The pandemic over the last year and then the disastrous power outage last month have shown how important it is to bring Texans together to solve our many challenges,” Benavidez said. “So it’s a gut punch to see lawmakers still trying to divide Texans with legislation that targets LGBTQ people, or anyone else, for discrimination. It’s so important that we instead update our laws to set a clear standard that discrimination has no place in our state.”
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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.
