AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott today announced a special session at the Texas State Capitol with an agenda that includes passing a so-called anti-trans “bathroom bill” which openly targets and discriminates against transgender Texans for living their lives according to their gender identity. The so-called “bathroom bill” has already received negative attention as some of the nation’s top business CEOs, including Apple, Microsoft, and Facebook, have denounced any sort of discriminatory, anti-trans legislation.
This special session announcement follows what was a “discrimination session” against marginalized communities across the state, including LGBTQ Texans. From shoving through HB 3859 – which allows adoption agencies to use religion as a weapon to deny LGBTQ families the ability to adopt a child – to signing a ban on “sanctuary cities” into law, policy that could potentially harm LGBTQ immigrants, the Texas Capitol has promoted an out-of-touch agenda at the expense of the state’s most vulnerable.
“Gov. Greg Abbott is proving everything is bigger in Texas including prioritizing discrimination. If the governor moves forward with this harmful legislation against trans students, LGBTQ people, businesses, and fair-minded Texans will respond in Texas style – Big,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. “Trans Texans have experienced harassment and threats because of this last session and if any anti-trans bills get signed into law, then Governor Abbott’s legacy will be turning Texas into a state known for harming some its most marginalized people.”
