100s attend Texas Capitol for transgender bathroom bill vote

Lt. Gov Dan Patrick, who preside over the Texas Senate is pleased with the support he says he’s seen for the bill and disputes claims that a similar bill passed previous year in North Carolina led to a loss of jobs and hurt the state’s economy.

The NFL issued its own warning to Texas, saying it would take into account any new restrictions on transgender access to bathrooms as it decides where to host future Super Bowls.

Also in February, the National Basketball Association weighed in on the anti-LGBT “bathroom bill”, suggesting that the state could lose future All Star games if it is passed.

Late in the evening, Kolkhorst promised to continue to hear the testimony of the hundreds of people left waiting to speak: “I’m going to stay here with every transgender parent and every transgender parent all night”. They were born male, but they identify as a woman. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who has called the bill a priority during the current legislative session, say the bill would protect privacy and women’s safety.

“I don’t think I look like a boy, so to see me walk into the men’s restroom I think would turn a few heads”, Maddie said.

But Marilyn Morrison, a transgender female in the third grade, testified against the bill, telling legislators that it would be “embarrassing” to have to use the boys’ restroom. Parents brought their transgender kids, and transgender men and women from across the state detailed their difficulties with bullying, harassment and discrimination.

“Very very uncomfortable, the thought of a boy coming in the bathroom with me is scary and it worries me because I want the bathroom to stay a private place to where a boy can not come in because he is of the opposite gender”, said Shiloh.

Dr. Colt Keo-Meier, a clinical psychologist who treats transgender people and is a transgender man, feared the impact of SB 6 on the estimated 125,000 transgender people in Texas. And I really don’t want a man in our dressing room. Even those who do have the money routinely face bureaucratic obstacles.

“I certainly do not want to discriminate against anyone …”

“I would rather put myself out there, and give a chance to the younger generation of trans-people to be more free and be more ok with themselves”, Fierro said.

Patrick said he is confident that the legislation would eventually passed out of the Senate. “Transgender people are the ones who need protection”. “Quite literally, this bill is killing my patients”. “Dadgummit, transgender people are real”.

Fierro said she knew she was transgender when she was 7, but didn’t start transitioning until she was 19. She used the girls’ bathroom at her elementary school without problems for the most part. The measure, she said, is similar to one passed by the city of Houston in 2015. “This bill would be devastating for my daughter”. But most of the morning was devoted to speakers who expressed support for the bill, which is backed by numerous state’s senators on the committee. He was mainly there to counter a potent argument the bill’s opponents have repeatedly deployed: that passing such a law would cause economic havoc in the state because many organizations view these measures as hostile to LGBT rights.

Marrero also helped organize the bus to Austin, and thanked ACLU of Texas, Valley AIDS Council and RGV Equal Voice Network for making it possible. First, she removed a provision that would have imposed harsher penalties on people who committed certain crimes in bathrooms and restrooms.

Forbes estimates that another $38 million in tourism has been flushed down the drain, and Deutsche Bank’s decision to pull 250 jobs from Cary added up to be $21 million in losses for the state’s economy.