Texas Legislature Opens for Special Session, Targets Transgender People

Today, less than two months after the end of the regular legislative session, Texas lawmakers are reconvening in the state capitol for a special session. The special session will feature attempts to roll back Texans’ civil rights, including bills targeting transgender children and adults. The first of these bills were introduced last week by Sen. Bob Hall and Rep. Ron Simmons.

For a complete breakdown of all anti-transgender bills during this special session, visit NCTE’s Texas Action Center: http://www.transequality.org/texasactioncenter

NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling emitió la siguiente declaración:

Some political leaders in Texas clearly have no qualms about singling out vulnerable communities for state-sanctioned discrimination. Extremists like Lt. Gov. Patrick must stop targeting transgender Texans to try and score political points. It’s bad for the economy, and it tells hundreds of thousands of Texans—including plenty of children—that they are less significant in the eyes of their state government just because of who they are. Even the Speaker of the House recognizes that these bills are terrible for Texas. In any case, as we saw in North Carolina, it’s a losing strategy.

Note to media: Transgender Texans and their families are available for interviews at the Texas State Capitol today. Those who are interested in connecting with these individuals can contact NCTE Community Organizer Kory Masen at (929) 900-5679.