FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 21, 2017

The Texas Senate tonight gave preliminary approval, 21-10, on second reading to HB3859, which would allow child welfare services providers that contract with the state to use religion to discriminate against qualified parents and children. Final passage on third reading is required. The House has already passed this bill. Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller has the following statement:

“It’s worse than disheartening to watch politicians cynically misuse religion as an excuse for allowing taxpayer-funded discrimination against qualified parents and vulnerable kids simply because of who they are or whom they love. Hundreds of faith leaders from Texas and across the nation have warned that bills like this are about discrimination and hurting people, not protecting religious freedom. Frankly, this bill’s passage reinforces the reputation of Texas as a state run by politicians who are hostile to treating everyone equally under the law.”

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The Texas Freedom Network is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization of religious and community leaders who support religious freedom, individual liberties and public education.… Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 21, 2017

The Texas House this evening amended (and then passed on second reading) SB2078, a bill that had been focused on school emergency and safety plans, to include a measure that would open the door to stigmatizing and shaming transgender students seeking access to public restrooms all other students use. The amended SB2078 must be approved on third reading by the House, then accepted by the Senate and signed by the governor.

Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller has the following statement:

“Supporters of this amendment suggested they were trying to find a middle ground by avoiding an explicit requirement that public schools discriminate against transgender students while also giving a nod to political pressure groups that have insisted on doing so. But there is no moral middle ground on discrimination. Either you discriminate, or you don’t. This amendment, if it becomes law, would leave transgender students even more vulnerable to being stigmatized and bullied simply because they are different. It would be far better if our lawmakers rejected these cynical and dishonest efforts to turn transgender Texans into pawns for advancing discriminatory public policies.”

Background:

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick… Read More

Steven Hotze, the head of Conservative Republicans of Texas (which the Southern Poverty Law Center last year added to its list of hate groups), is asking supporters to pray for God to destroy lawmakers who support LGBT equality and women's reproductive rights:…… Read More

Supporters of SB6, the so-called "bathroom bill" that would discriminate against transgender people who need to use a public restroom in Texas, often claim they're simply trying to "protect" women and children from sexual predators. The bill, they insist, has nothing to do with targeting transgender people for discrimination. But they're lying, as a spokesperson for Conservative Republicans of Texas made clear in an essay Monday. Excerpt:…… Read More

Religious-right activists used a press conference on Wednesday to pressure Texas House members into passing SB6, which would require discrimination against transgender Texans in public restrooms. We sent out a statement in response.… Read More