Tag: SB 1978

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Texas Lawmakers Approve ‘License To Discriminate’ Against LGBTQs

Texas Republican seeks to ban all gender-affirming care
The Texas legislature revived anti-LGBTQ House Bill 3172 as Senate Bill 1978, and the legislation has now passed in both chambers.

The Texas legislature revived anti-LGBTQ House Bill 3172 as Senate Bill 1978, and the legislation has now passed in both chambers.

SB 1978 seeks to protect businesses and individuals from being penalized by city or government officials if they donate to, or are affiliated with, religious organizations that are known to discriminate against LGBTQ people.

It was dubbed the #SaveChickFilA bill after the San Antonio City Council voted to block inclusion of the fast-food restaurant at the San Antonio airport due to a history of anti-LGBTQ donations.

After members of the House LGBTQ caucus successfully killed the bill in that chamber, Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) filed an amended version in the state Senate.

Hughes contends the bill doesn’t contain “an ounce of discrimination.”

But state Rep. Celia Israel (D-Austin) said on the floor of the House, “It’s been cloaked religious freedom, but the genesis, the nexus of this bill, is in hatred.”

State Rep. Mary Gonzalez (D-Clint), who chairs the House LGBTQ Caucus, said the bill “perpetuates the rhetoric that leads to discrimination, to hate and ultimately bullying that leads to the consequence of people dying.”

The legislation was quickly passed in the Senate and sent to the House where the Austin Chronicle reports the bill was approved today by a vote of 79-64.

An amendment added to the bill in the House requires one more vote by the Senate, where it’s expected to pass.

Then the legislation heads to the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott, who has signaled he plans on signing the bill into law.

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Texas Republicans Revive Anti-LGBTQ ‘Chick-Fil-A’ Bill

Senate Bill 1978, the companion bill to HB 3172, was filed by state Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola). Addressing the Senate Affairs Committee, Hughes told a practically empty room on Monday that, “The bill as filed ensures religious beliefs are protected from discrimination.” Hughes emphasized that the bill was about “those uniquely American rights,” freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

Last week, I reported that the anti-LGBTQ “Save Chick-fil-A” bill in Texas, House Bill 3172, had been successfully torpedoed by out state Rep. Julie Johnson.

The legislation, authored and sponsored by GOP state Rep. Matt Krause, would have banned cities and other governmental entities from taking “adverse action” against anyone for their “membership in, affiliation with, or contribution, donation or other support” to a religious organization.

It became known as the “Save Chick-fil-A” bill as supporters felt it would have helped avoid the recent boycott and eventual elimination of the fast-food chain from San Antonio’s airport. The fast-food restaurant has years of history of making donations to anti-LGBTQ organizations that advocate against LGBTQ rights.

The Dallas Voice had labeled the legislation one of the “most extreme anti-LGBT bills this session.”

Well, now the bill is back thanks to some last minute maneuvers in the state Senate, according to The Dallas News.

Senate Bill 1978, the companion bill to HB 3172, was filed by state Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola).

Addressing the Senate Affairs Committee, Hughes told a practically empty room on Monday that, “The bill as filed ensures religious beliefs are protected from discrimination.”

Hughes emphasized that the bill was about “those uniquely American rights,” freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

The room was nearly empty because the GOP-led Senate waived rules just minutes before so that the bill could be heard in committee without giving public notice.

Last week, when HB 3172 came up for debate, dozens showed up to denounce the legislation.

But with no one to debate the bill, the committee advanced the legislation to the full Senate. SB 1978 is on today’s intent calendar.

The Dallas News says Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, issued a statement via a spokesperson defending the last minute waiving of the Senate rules.

Sherry Sylvester, Patrick’s spokesperson, said it’s not uncommon to suspend the rules to speed up bills this late in the session.

Sylvester also went to lengths to say the language in SB 1978 is the same as matches the HB 3172, and that bill received “several hours” of debate last week.

“This is not a new bill,” she said, adding, “It’s passage will strengthen our protections for religious liberty — a priority for the Lt. Governor.”

Kathy Miller, the president of Texas Freedom Network, issued a statement calling the tactic a ‘ghost hearing.’

“It’s appalling to hold a ghost hearing and then take a snap vote that leaves virtually no chance for anyone to tell senators how such a sweeping discrimination bill would affect individuals and families across the state,” said Miller.

“The lieutenant governor is so desperate to pass a bill that shields discrimination against LGBT Texans that he no longer even pretends to care what anybody else thinks about it,” she added. “But ramming this bill through doesn’t change the fact that the majority of Texans oppose laws that allow the use of religion to hurt people simply because of who they are or whom they love.”

A poll by Public Religion Research Institute in March 2019 found that 54% of Texas oppose allowing businesses to refuse products or services to LGBTQ people due to religious beliefs. Thirty-nine percent say they favor the idea.