Author Archives: Jose

One Final Indignity

| May 28, 2015





Senate Resolution 1028 (click to enlarge) The Texas Legislature will leave town when the session concludes this Monday. Going into the session, TFN and our allies knew we would be on the defensive on several issues. This was especially true on LGBT rights because of the impending U.S. Supreme Court decision, expected next month, that could […]

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A Busy Sunday at the Legislature

| May 25, 2015





It was a hectic Sunday at the Texas Legislature. Thank you to tall who took action and contacted your reps during the holiday weekend. Here’s what happened on what turned out to be not much of a holiday for legislators. Sanford’s anti-LGBT amendment State Rep. Scott Sanford, R-McKinney, did not get an opportunity to offer […]

URGENT: Anti-LGBT sneak attack expected today in the Texas House

| May 18, 2015





We’re hearing that state Rep. Scott Sanford, R-McKinney, is expected to offer a dangerous religious-refusal amendment during the debate on SB 206 in the House later today. The amendment (which is almost identical to HB 3864) would permit discrimination against LGBT children and families in adoption, foster care and child welfare placements. Also, the broad […]

Take Action: Oppose Anti-Abortion Legislation Monday at the Capitol

| May 17, 2015





While over in the Texas House of Representatives many, many bills met their fate when a key deadline passed Thursday night, lawmakers in the lower chamber did accomplish a few things, including, unfortunately, passing even more abortion restrictions. And with those bills now approved in the House, the debate over that legislation now shifts to […]

Rep. Anchia Stands Up for Adopted Children and Calls Out the Bad Guys

| April 16, 2015





State Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, is serving in his sixth session of the Texas Legislature and had never made a personal privilege speech. Until yesterday. Anchia went on the House floor to speak about a bill he’s filed in several sessions. It’s a reasonable bill that simply removes the requirement that supplemental birth certificates for […]

Steven Hotze Hatesplains the Law

| April 9, 2015





Where to begin with Steven Hotze? The Houstonian and head of Conservative Republicans of Texas last made headlines a few weeks ago when he brought Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore to the Texas Capitol for a rally in defense of this state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Hotze was back in Austin on Wednesday to appear before the […]

Roy Moore Says Blame the Hippies

| March 23, 2015





State lawmakers typically don’t take too kindly to outsiders coming to Texas and telling them what to do. Except, of course, if we’re talking about keeping equal rights away from LGBT individuals. Then some lawmakers these days are all ears. Dozens of elected officials stood outside the Capitol earlier today to welcome Alabama Supreme Court Chief […]

Tony Tinderholt’s Defense of Marriage(s)

| February 26, 2015





On Wednesday, state Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, filed a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct against state District Judge David Wahlberg. The alleged wrongdoing? That Wahlberg issued the order that allowed Suzanne Bryant and Sarah Goodfriend to obtain a marriage license, making them the first same-sex couple to legally marry in Texas. Quorum […]

An Invitation and a Word on Alabama

| February 9, 2015





  What: Faith Advocacy Day When: Feb. 17, 1pm (begin gathering at 12:45pm) Where: North steps of the Capitol in Austin Same-sex marriage became legal in Alabama this morning, the 37th state where such is the case. Overnight many of the headlines have centered around Roy Moore, the chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court […]