Press contact: Johnathan Gooch, (512) 922-4040, [email protected]
Austin, TX – This morning the Texas Senate voted to pass HB229, which would enforce strict definitions of gender limited by binary definitions of sex. This bill ignores the reality of the over 100k trans people living in the state, and the 1.7% of the population that is intersex. The bill will impact the ability of trans and intersex people to have accurate ID and other government paperwork. This may forcibly out trans and intersex people, potentially placing them in harm’s way at a time when violence against trans people is on the rise. The bill now awaits the Governor’s signature.
This session, Texas lawmakers have filed more than 200 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills. This comes at a time of increased attacks on trans people across the country, including a similar Executive Order from President Trump, While the Governor has already directed state agencies to adopt policies similar to the Trump EO, and Paxton has advised state agencies to disallow updates to gender markers (a service that primarily benefits trans people), this bill will codify those efforts into Texas law.
Trans people across the state who have questions about their rights can reach out to the Equality Texas Help Desk. Bills like this also have a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of trans and queer young people. Young people in need of support can reach out to the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386.
Statement from Brad Pritchett, Interim CEO of Equality Texas:
“This bill was not needed, no judges were asking for legislative direction about definitions. Now, a clumsy and discriminatory definition will be implemented that will infect every corner of the state government with anti-trans animus. We have fallen so far from our ideals of freedom that lawmakers are now trying to implement their own dictionary so that they can erase people from society. They will be shocked to learn that trans people have been around longer than the state of Texas, longer than the United States of America, and this small piece of paper cannot undo that history nor erase trans people’s future. This fight isn’t over. Our trans neighbors mean too much to too many.”
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Equality Texas is the largest statewide organization working to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Texans through political action, education, community organizing, and collaboration.