Transgender Texans can breathe a little easier today after the state legislature adjourned their special session without passing a so-called “bathroom bill.” The legislation had been condemned by law enforcement, corporations, sports teams and activists.
BREAKING: Texas House adjourns sine die, ending #txlege special session without passing any new anti-#transgender legislation! #YallMeansAll
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) August 16, 2017
“Anti-transgender legislation has failed yet again. It is now clearer than ever: nobody but a handful of extremists wants laws that discriminate—in Texas or in any state,” said Mara Keisling, the Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “These laws aren’t only harmful to transgender people. They’re also harmful to the state at large, because businesses, sports teams, and major associations don’t want to be involved with state-sanctioned discrimination.
“Extremists in other states have been watching Texas to see how this would play out. It should be fully obvious by now that transgender people will not stand for being pawns in extremist political games. We hope that politicians in Texas and around the country will move on from trying to scapegoat us for their own gain.”
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While the bill was pushed by Lt Governor Dan Patrick and religious conservatives, House Speaker Joe Straus, a moderate Republican, refused to assign the bill to a committee where it could be heard.
