Anti-Trans Bills Defeated in Arizona and Texas!

After an ordinance was approved in April by the City of Phoenix which prohibited discrimination in public accommodations based on gender identity, Republican Representative John Kavanagh introduced a bill that sought to make it a crime for a person to use a restroom or any other hygiene facility associated with a sex other than that which was assigned at birth, as noted on a birth certificate.

Kavanagh’s original “papers please” bill caused a national uproar over government overreach and intrusion into privacy. Undeterred, Kavanagh retooled his bill. Upon reintroduction, the public learned that Kavanagh now sought to privatize gender policing by elisting citizens and business alike as his gender monitors.

Kavanagh, Masen Davis and I debating Kavanagh’s bill

However, according to the AP, Kavanagh recently tabled his bill after some members in his caucus had expressed concern about his proposed definitions.

On the Texas front, a Republican attempted to (yet again) strip the right of trans people to marry. Currently, Texas Legislative law states that you can be issued a valid marriage certificate if you show proof of a “sex change” (see Sec. 2.005(b)(7)). This is the second year in a row that Republicans have tried (and failed) to remove this trans-positive section of Texas law:

2011 call to action

The Texas Legislature meets once every two years. Both in 2011 and 2013, past Transgender Foundation of America board member (now with Equality Texas), Daniel Williams was instrumental in stopping these actions in their tracks. In 2011 Williams, Monica Roberts and I worked hard to defeat the anti-trans bill and this year Williams was able to quietly finesse its death before it came down to a vote.

What’s the takeaway?

Trans advocacy works!

#cisprivilege
#cisprivilege

 

 

 

 

Cristan Williams is a trans historian and pioneer in addressing the practical needs of underserved communities. She started the first trans homeless shelter in Texas and co-founded the first federally funded housing-first homeless program, pioneered affordable health care for trans people in the Houston area, won the right for trans people to change their gender on Texas ID prior to surgery, started numerous trans social service programs and founded the Transgender Center as well as the Transgender Archives. She has published short stories, academic chapters and papers, and numerous articles for both print and digital magazines. She received numerous awards for her advocacy and has presented at universities throughout the nation, served on several governmental committees and CBO boards, is the Editor of the TransAdvocate, and is a founding board member of the Transgender Foundation of America and the Bee Busy Wellness Center.