LGBTQ Community Concerns

permanently ensure certain rights for the l-g- b-t-q community. abc-7’s luke lyddon is live with what they’d like to see. luke? rick, estela senator rodriguez and the organization ‘equality texas’ are highlighting several issues within the lgbtq community. transgender equality issues came to prominence last month when the federal government told public schools they must allow transgender students to use bathrooms that correspond with their self identity. “you have now told everyone i the state of texas that it’s okay to harass my child, and its ok for the school district to stop supporting him.” but now state senator jose rodriguez and equality texas say they want to educate texas on more than the so called bathroom bill. “we’re talking about about bathrooms which is taking away from some of the issues transgender folks are facing, and one is access to competent healthcare.” ” gives us an opportunity to confront the pre-conceived notions of trans-people, and ask ourselves, why would we be treating them any different than we expect to treat ourselves. all the states shaded in this map prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. but if you look closely, texas has no state level protection for lgbtq texans– “i somebody going to be able to rent an apartment? buy a house because their documents dont line up. all of these things are important to the trans community, but we are being forced to talk about an issue thats not as important as can someone get a job and support themselves and put a roof over their heads.” the l- g-b-t- community argues that a federal law needs to be passed to make the community a protected class. “i think w need to elevate who transgender folks are, because right now we fear the unknown and not enough people know who trans people are.” senator rodriguez says he plans to file legislation prohibiting employment and public accomodation discrimination against this community this upcoming session. happening now on