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Record bill filings suggest more LGBTQ+ legislation ahead in Texas

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:18:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In 2023, a fifth of all state-level bills filed impacting the LGBTQ+ community came from Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Because the state does not readily compile these statistics, we relied on those advocacy groups’ data. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future.Read more here.

OUTLAW: A Half-Century Criminalizing LGBTQ+ Texans

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:18:50 GMT

(KXAN) — “Trans rights are human rights!” one protester yelled into a bullhorn. “We’re here, we’re queer, we’re not going anywhere,” another chanted.Roughly a hundred LGBTQ+ activists and advocates chanted, raised banners and made their voices heard outside the gates of the Texas State Capitol.Dozens in opposition, meanwhile, stood nearby. One raised a sign: “Gender identity is a lie.” Feet away, dozens of others in biker gear stood watch – one with a Confederate flag patched to his leather vest. Another man in a ballistic vest stared silently from behind the crowd with his index finger perched just above the trigger of the AR-15 style rifle hanging from his shoulder.The juxtaposition played out on a sweltering August afternoon in the shadow of the building where the recent legislative session focused more than ever before on LGBTQ+ issues.Read the full story here.

What a birth certificate change means to transgender Texans and the state's debate

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:18:50 GMT

Project Summary: In 2023, a fifth of the country’s state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Chin hair: that's how it started for Rocky Lane. Little hairs popping up on his chin and his voice deepening as testosterone took effect. "I was like, by the time I have a full beard, I'm probably going to need a driver's license that says 'M' on it," Lane said. Explore OutLaw: A half-century of crimina...

'You can't hide the intent': Religious protection bill worries LGBTQ+ advocates

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:18:50 GMT

Project Summary: In 2023, a fifth of the country’s state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Houston attorney Neil Giles smiles at the very mention of his twins, both of whom attend the University of Texas at Austin and both of whom identify as non-binary."They're both extremely smart," Giles said with a chuckle. "They're very different in some ways and very similar in some ways." Explore OutLa...

Inside the ‘Outlaw’ project: Collaboration, bias awareness and fairness

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:18:50 GMT

(KXAN) — How do you cover a story when you’re part of it? For LGBTQ+ journalists at KXAN, the record number of bills filed at the Texas State Capitol in 2023 restricting their community brought concerns – and presented an opportunity.After thorough discussion among newsroom leaders, we decided to lean into the informed, well-sourced reporting those journalists could offer, launching our sixth “Catalyst” investigative project to date. Knowing the topic was already highly-politicized and often emotional in legislative hearings and beyond, we wanted to take a multi-platform, extensive look – and produce it in a way our audience would know we are striving to maintain objectivity and fairness.It started with a broad look at the legislation proposed and analyzing the background, influence and outcome of each bill we focused our reporting around. Some measures passed, others progressed further than ever before. As our investigators tried to track down details on the players behind these po...

Texas almost stopped library drag story time. Will it try again?

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:18:50 GMT

Project Summary: In 2023, a fifth of the country’s state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future. AUSTIN (KXAN) — On a sweltering Saturday afternoon in August, a group of parents escaped the heat with their children to go to an indoor story time led by someone who looked like she might have stepped off a picture book's colorful pages. The crowd chanted and acted out the words with the host, as she read through one bo...

How new Texas law restricting some books stacks up nationwide

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:18:50 GMT

Project Summary: In 2023, a fifth of the country’s state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas was among the states contributing to book restrictions across the nation, a surge that set a record in 2022 and appears on track to do the same in 2023, according to the American Library Association. The national organization documented the attempts to remove books from public and school librar...

Trans athlete restrictions sweep the country. Will they stick?

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:18:50 GMT

Project Summary: In 2023, a fifth of the country’s state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Sports and athletics have always been a central part of Mack Beggs’ life.  “I did dance competitively — ballet, tap [and] modern,” he said. “I did baseball, tee ball, soccer, pole vault, volleyball — like everything.” Explore OutLaw: A half-century of criminalizing LGBTQ+ Texans If that wasn’t eno...

Lawmaker efforts foreshadow challenges for Texas drag future

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:18:50 GMT

Project Summary: In 2023, a fifth of the country’s state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future. AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new Texas law which opponents feared could ban some drag performances remains tied up in court. A federal judge out of Houston ruled the state cannot enforce the law that would restrict and criminalize "sexually oriented performances" in front of children. Explore OutLaw: A half-century of ...

Texas didn't pass a gender identity law for schools. Now, some districts make their own plans

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 11:18:50 GMT

Project Summary: In 2023, a fifth of the country’s state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future. AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Following a Texas legislative session that featured dozens of bills aimed at LGBTQ+-related issues, some school districts statewide are taking matters into their own hands to implement policies restricting gender identity and sexual orientation discussions.Texas State Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, introd...