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Friday was a hard day for our Texas trans family and so we at the Borderland Rainbow Center and the Diversity and Resiliency Institute of El Paso reach out, to remind you that you are not alone, to offer our support and most importantly our actions to you. We see you, we will hold the line with you and for you. You are family, your rights are human rights. You are welcome, you are seen, and you are loved.
And to all the allies across the nation, this is the time to speak, to act, and to support. We are a battleground State and need your help.
On Friday April 14th, two bills advanced in the Texas Legislature. SB 14 and HB 1686 are companion bills which both will make gender affirming medical care illegal for minors. This includes:
the removal of access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy, including current patients, who will be forced to stop engaging in these therapies;
loss of licensure for medical providers who provide puberty blockers and/or hormone therapy for people under the age of 18;
blocking the use of public funds, including Medicaid, from reimbursing for these gender affirming practices.
These bills will apply to all transgender and nonbinary minors, including those who have parent/guardian support and those who are emancipated and serve as their own guardian. Both of these bills and the legislators who have voted in favor of them disregard the testimony of the transgender and nonbinary kids and teens of Texas, as well as their families and loved ones and the many medical and mental health providers and associations which agree that gender affirming care is best practice. Instead, the legislators who have voted in favor of advancing these bills have listened to junk science, conspiracy theories, and their own anti-LGBTQ+ bias.
Allies, here is what we need you to do. We need your helping in contacting the people who have the power to stop these bills from advancing further. In doing this you could help save the lives of Texas children.
For Allies living in Texas
Use our Advocacy Guide and social media assets to help you in taking the steps below: https://shorturl.at/uANZ7
Step 1: Contact the members of the House Calendars Committee TODAY and tell them to stop SB 14 and HB 1686.
The Calendars Committee is where a bill goes to be scheduled for a vote in the Texas House of Representatives. Both SB 14 and HB 1686 are in this stage. For SB 14, a House vote will be its final stage before going to the Governor to be signed into law. If signed, the law would take effect September 1st, 2023.
We have included the House Calendars Committee members contact information here:
Chair:
Rep. Dustin Burrows
Phone: (512) 463-0542
Vice Chair:
Rep. Toni Rose
Phone: (512) 463-0664
Members:
Rep. David Cook
Phone: (512) 463-0374
Rep. Charlie Geren
Phone: (512) 463-0610
Rep. Cole Hefner
Phone: (512) 463-0271
Rep. Ana Hernandez
Phone: (512) 463-0614
Rep. Ann Johnson
Phone: (512) 463-0389
Rep. Jared Patterson
Phone: (512) 463-0694
Rep. Shelby Slawson
Phone: (512) 463-0628
Rep. James Talarico
Phone: (512) 463-0821
Rep. Ed Thompson
Phone: (512) 463-0707
Step 2: Contact YOUR State Representative TODAY and tell them that if SB 14 or HB 1686 make it to the House for a vote, you implore them to vote NO.
You can find your Texas State Representative here: https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home
Step 3: Share what you did, why you did it, and the Advocacy Guide, with everyone you know.
Share on social media, in conversation, in every way you can think of. We need everyone who says they are an ally to STEP UP AND TAKE ACTION!
Step 4: Take action to support LGBTQ+ people in your community! Get connected with LGBTQ+ organizations and groups in your community. Volunteer and donate. Take it upon yourself to learn about LGBTQ+ history, and reflect on your own bias and allyship roadblocks to help you be more effective!
Step 5: Keep track of these bills and the over 100 other anti-LGBTQ+ bills advancing through the legislature with Equality Texas’ legislative tracker and continue to advocate against harmful bills: https://www.equalitytexas.org/legislature/legislative-bill-tracker-2023/
For Allies outside of Texas:
Step 1: Recognize that legislation in Texas often sets precedence for the rest of the nation. Texas is a State that has significant social and political pull. Even if you live in a State without an abundance of anti-LGBTQ+ bills or court opinions, what happens in Texas has a history of being used as a model for other states.
Step 2: Donate to Texas LGBTQ+ Community Centers and Nonprofits AND LGBTQ+ organizations in your own community!
Your funding helps to support not only advocacy work, but also care and support that is life-saving! You can find them here: https://www.lgbtqcenters.org/LGBTCenters
Step 3: Monitor and keep track of LGBTQ+ bills in your state. Advocate against harmful bills and advocate FOR bills focused on equity with the Equality Federation’s legislative tracker: https://www.equalityfederation.org/state-legislation
Step 4: Take action to support LGBTQ+ people in your community! Get connected with LGBTQ+ organizations and groups in your community. Volunteer and donate. Take it upon yourself to learn about LGBTQ+ history, and reflect on your own bias and allyship roadblocks to help you be more effective!
Step 5: Share what you did and why you did it with everyone you know! You can inspire others to learn and take action simply by sharing what you do!
Share on social media, in conversation, in everyone you can think of. We need everyone who says they are an ally to STEP UP AND TAKE ACTION!
It’s only with the help of Allies that any true change has been affected. PLEASE don’t be a passive bystander. TAKE ACTION and help SAVE LIVES!!
Do you want to help us with our advocacy work? Donate to the Borderland Rainbow Center now!