Limiting access to birth control. Telling gays and lesbians who they should love and who they can’t. Opposing effective sex education for teens. Politicians are way too interested in the private sex lives of ordinary Texans. Just who elected them to play Cupid, anyway? Go to cupidorstupid.org to join a new Texas Freedom Network Education […]
Reproductive Rights
Another Strange Twist for Anti-Sex Ed Legislation
On Thursday, the House Public Education Committee voted 7-3 to approve HB 1057 by Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, making it eligible soon for consideration by the full House. But the version of the bill the committee passed bears almost no resemblance to the bill as originally filed, or its Senate companion (SB 521) that passed out of the Senate Education committee […]
Proposed Texas House Resolution on Birth Control Sends a Message on Women’s Health Care
On Wednesday the Texas House Select Committee on Federalism and Fiscal Responsibility will consider a resolution condemning the federal requirement that most employers include coverage for contraception in health insurance for their employees. HCR 32, by state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, lacks the force of law, but its passage would send an alarming message that says […]
Week Ends with Big Wins for Public Education, Family Planning, LGBT Texans at the Capitol
This week began with the Texas Freedom Network mobilizing supporters of public education, family planning, LGBT rights and religious freedom for big battles at the Texas Capitol. We’re happy to report good news on a number of fronts, but hard work remains ahead of us. Public Education On Thursday the Texas House voted overwhelmingly, 103-43, […]
Budget Update: Apparent Truce Called in Family Planning Debate
The Austin American-Statesman’s Chuck Lindell is reporting that we are not going to see a repeat of the fight on the House floor from two years ago that resulted in massive cuts to the state’s family planning budget: A brokered agreement will remove about a dozen family planning and abortion-related amendments from the state budget debate […]