100+ Groups Condemn Attack on LGBTQ+ Texans

Open Letter from 100+ Orgs Defending LGBTQ+ Texans

We all want to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of our races, backgrounds, and genders. But today, certain politicians are pushing laws that restrict our freedoms because of the color of our skin, what’s in our wallets, or because we are LGBTQIA+. They exploit divisions and fears among us so they can get and hold onto power, denying us the basic rights, resources, respect, and safety all people deserve. 

 Since 2020, opponents of equality have pursued a nationally coordinated strategy to spread disinformation and fear about the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly transgender people. These attacks are meant to stoke fear about LGBTQIA+ people and perpetuate stigma. This stigma fuels identity-based harassment, bullying, discrimination, violence, rejection, and assault of LGBTQIA+ individuals. For transgender people specifically, stigma and vigilante hysteria has led to the fortification of barriers that have made access to adequate housing, jobs, healthcare, and identity documents nearly impossible. 

We, the signers of this letter, as organizations who serve Texas and the nation oppose anti-LGBTQIA+ extremist efforts to invalidate the existence of our neighbors. LGBTQIA+ people are our siblings, teachers, faith leaders, youth, employees and more. They are part of the fabric of this state and contribute to its richness. Attempts to villainize the LGBTQIA+ community do not align with true Texas values of friendship, family, and community. We believe each one of us should have the freedom to define ourselves, pursue our dreams, make private family decisions without government intrusion, and have a good and happy life — without exceptions. 

We envision a state where LGBTQIA+ Texans can visibly live, work, contribute to our communities, and access crucial resources that allow them to thrive. 

Texans deserve lawmakers who represent us all and grant us the dignity and respect we deserve. We deserve lawmakers who will focus on efforts to improve our lives. We deserve a fair shot at prosperity, access to health care, safe and affirming public schools, and active community support to access vital resources that allow us to thrive. 

Signed,

1. AAPI Victory Alliance 
2. Access Esperanza Clinics Inc. 
3. ACLU of Texas 
4. ACT 4 SA 
5. AIDS Healthcare Foundation 
6. All Souls Episcopal Church 
7. Allandale Veterinary Clinic 
8. The Ally Coalition 
9. Angry Tias and Abuelas of the RGV 
10. Anti-Defamation League (National)  
11. Anti-Defamation League (Southwest) 
12. Anti-Defamation League (Texas) 
13. AFL-CIO – Texas 
14. ASHwell 
15. Austin Justice Coalition 
16. Austin Mutual Aid
17. Asian Texans for Justice 
18. Austin Texas Musicians 
19. Avow Texas 
20. Battleground Texas Engagement Fund 
21. Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ 
22. CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers 
23. Children’s Defense Fund – Texas 
24. ChrysalisQ 
25. Coalition for Environment, Equity, and Resilience 
26. Coalition of Labor Union Women – CLUW Texas 
27. Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation 
28. College Station Pride Community Center, Inc. 
29. Deeds Not Words 
30. Diverse Elders Coalition 
31. Educators in Solidarity 
32. Equality Federation 
33. Equality Texas 
34. Embrace United Church of Christ 
35. Every Texan 
36. Family Eldercare, Inc. 
37. Family Equality 
38. First Unitarian Church of Dallas
39. Galileo Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 
40. Galveston Island Voter Education Resource & Services (G.I.V.E.R.S) 
41. GLAAD
42. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 
43. GLSEN – National 
44. Grassroots Leadership 
45. Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce 
46. Ground Game Texas 
47. GSA Network – National 
48. Hogg Foundation for Mental Health 
49. Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative 
50. Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus 
51. Human Rights Campaign 
52. IDRA (Intercultural Development Research Association) 
53. Indivisible Austin 
54. Indivisible Grapevine Area 
55. interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth 
56. Joint Council 58 – Teamsters 
57. Lambda Legal 
58. Latina Institute Texas 
59. League of Women Voters of Texas (LWV Texas) 
60. The Mahogany Project 
61. Makom Shelanu Congregation 
62. MAVEN Youth 
63. Minority Veterans of America 
64. Moms Demand Action 
65. MOVE Texas 
66. NAMI El Paso 
67. NAMI Gulf Coast 
68. NAMI Texas 
69. National Association of Social Workers – Texas Chapter 
70. National Black Justice Coalition 
71. National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition 
72. National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) 
73. National Center for Transgender Equality  
74. Open Arms Rape Crisis Center & LGBT+ Services 
75. Organizacion Latina Trans in Texas 
76. OUTreach Denton 
77. Pease Park Conservancy 
78. PFLAG National 
79. PFLAG Boerne 
80. PFLAG Georgetown 
81. PFLAG San Marcos 
82. Planned Parenthood Texas Votes 
83. Plus Life Media
84. Pride Community Center, Inc. – College Station 
85. Pride Corpus Christi 
86. Progress Texas
87. Public Citizen 
88. QWELL Community Foundation 
89. Resource Center 
90. River City Federal Credit Union 
91. SAGE 
92. Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church 
93. Sierra Club, Lone Star Chapter 
94. South Texas Equality Project 
95. St. Stephen United Methodist Church 
96. Stonewall Democrats of Austin 
97. Sunrise Movement Dallas 
98. Tahirih Justice Center 
99. Tarrant County Stonewall Democrats 
100. Texas Psychological Association 
101. Texas Equal Access Fund (TEA Fund) 
102. Texas American Federation of Teachers 
103. Texas Civil Rights Project 
104. Texas Counseling Association 
105. Texas Democratic Party 
106. Texas Equal Access Fund 
107. Texas Freedom Network 
108. Texas Health Action 
109. Texas Impact
110. Texas LGBTQ Chambers of Commerce 
111. Texas Organizing Project 
112. Texas Pride Impact Funds 
113. Texas Psychological Association  
114. Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) 
115. Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry 
116. Transgender Education Network of Texas 
117. Transgender Law Center 
118. Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) 
119. Travis County Democratic Party
120. The Trevor Project 
121. Trinity Metropolitan Community Church 
122. United Way of the Coastal Bend 
123. Welcome Table Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 
124. Westminster Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) 
125. Whole Woman’s Health Alliance 
126. Woori Juntos 
127. Workers Defense 
128. YWCA San Antonio 
129. Young Invincibles