State Rep. Jeff Leach has brought up one inflammatory anti-abortion bill after another as chair of the Texas House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee this session. This past week's hearing drew testimony from hundreds anti-abortion extremists, many celebrating the possibility of executing a woman who ends her pregnancy early for any reason. Enough is enough. Today we joined with partner organizations to call out Chairman Leach for abusing his position of authority to bully, denigrate and shame women who have an abortion. Read More

Texas Rising leaders and activists rallied today at the Capitol and put lawmakers on notice that a new generation is becoming an electoral force in this state -- and they're not going to put up with efforts to make it harder for them to vote. Check out the press release:…… Read More

While Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and some of his Senate cronies seem hellbent on passing anti-LGBT discrimination laws, House members have a chance to take a different direction this week.

On Tuesday the House Business and Industry Committee will consider HB850 , which updates the state’s employment nondiscrimination laws to include protections for LGBT Texans.

It’s rare when a Texas legislative committee considers such a positive, pro-equality bill. So it’s critical that we show committee members that there is broad support for equality for all Texans regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

You can support Rep. Eric Johnson’s HB850 in two ways:

Sign up to testify at the committee hearing on Tuesday. The committee will meet at 10:30 a.m. or on adjournment of the House in E2.016 in the Capitol extension. Place a call to members of the House Business and Industry Committee to express your support for HB850 (contact info provided below).

To support HB850, tell committee members:… Read More

Just a day after the Senate State Affairs Committee advanced legislation allowing licensed professionals to use religion to justify discrimination against LGBT people, new polling shows that a majority of Texans oppose such laws. Check out our press release. Read More

November’s elections showed that a rising generation of young, diverse Texans is emerging as an electoral giant. Soon 1 in 3 eligible voters in this state will be under the age of 30.

But those in power right now don’t want that. They want to hold on to power by keeping young Texans and communities of color out of the polling booth. And to do that, they’re pushing an extreme voter suppression bill in the Legislature – SB 9

Texas Rising is fighting SB9. Here’s how you can help:

Register for Texas Rising Advocacy Day (April 4). Showing up in Austin to speak out in person against voter suppression is the most effective way to fight bad legislation. Contact your Senator and tell them that a) You oppose SB 9; and b) they should focus on legislation that makes voting easier, not harder. You can find your senator’s contact information by using this tool.

Here are some of the awful things in SB9:… Read More