Equality Texas Blog

National Day of Listening: Tony Perri & his grandson Jeffrey Perri

Today is National Day of Listening.

 

Tony Perri talks with his grandson Jeffrey Perri about coming out as a gay man.

"I just felt I was not living an honest life."

Please listen: Tony Perri and his grandson Jeffrey Perri.

National Day of Listening: MJ Seide

Today is National Day of Listening.

MJ Seide talks to her granddaughter Genna Alperin about falling in love with her partner, Genna's biological grandmother.

‎"I knew that I had hit paradise," she says, "because I now have a family that I can wrap my arms around."

Please listen: MJ Seide talks to her granddaughter Genna Alperin.

National Day of Listening: Kendall Bailey

Today is National Day of Listening.

Kendall Bailey talks to his friend Don Davis about his dismissal from the U.S. Marines under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

"A Staff Sergeant went through my cell phone and saw some of the text messages that I had to my boyfriend."

Please listen: Kendall Bailey and his friend, Don Davis.

National Day of Listening: David Wilson

Today is National Day of Listening.

 
David Wilson, a plaintiff in the 2004 court decision legalizing marriage for same-sex couples in Massachusetts, remembers the death of his first partner.

Please listen: David Wilson.

Happy Thanksgiving from Equality Texas

"Thankful"

Somedays we forget
To look around us
Somedays we can't see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves
There's so much sorrow
It's way too late to say
I'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
It's so long overdue

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And every day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.

Even with our differences
There is a place we're all connected
Each of us can find each other's light

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more

There's so much to be thankful for.

Words and music by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager and Richard Page

2010 Elections - 2011 Legislative Session

2010 Elections - 2011 Legislative Session

While pundits continue to "analyze" and "spin" what Tuesday's elections mean at both the federal and state levels, we would like to share with you what we know to be true with regard to our ongoing work at the Texas Legislature.

Based on current election returns, the 2011 Texas House of Representatives will include 51 Democrats and 99 Republicans. All races remain to be certified by the Secretary of State's office. There is the potential for a recount in House District 48, where incumbent Representative Donna Howard (Austin) is currently the winner by 15 votes.

We are gratified that every single primary author of the 17 pro-equality bills in our 2009 legislative agenda was re-elected. We are fortunate to have the continued support and leadership of Sen. Rodney Ellis (Houston), and Reps. Rafael Anchia (Dallas), Roberto Alonzo (Dallas), Garnet Coleman (Houston), Jessica Farrar (Houston), Donna Howard (Austin), Elliott Naishtat (Austin), Eddie Rodriguez (Austin), Mark Strama (Austin), Marc Veasey (Fort Worth), and Mike Villarreal (San Antonio).

We are certainly sad to lose members with whom we have had a supportive working relationship, including co-authors and joint authors of legislative agenda bills: Valinda Bolton (Austin), Ellen Cohen (Houston), David Leibowitz (San Antonio), Joe Moody (El Paso), Paula Pierson (Arlington), Patrick Rose (San Marcos), and Allen Vaught (Dallas); Carol Kent (Dallas) and Robert Miklos (Mesquite) who cast important votes in the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence; and endorsed allies Diana Maldonado (Round Rock), Kristi Thibaut (Houston) and Chris Turner (Burleson).

We are grateful for their service and for their support.

However, equality is, and should continue to be, a bipartisan issue.

We look forward to working with the 37 incoming freshmen lawmakers, and with many of the returning incumbents, to find common ground in support of dignity and respect for all Texans.

These new members have been elected to focus on jobs, the economy, fiscal responsibility, and the state's budget deficit.  None of these new members ran campaigns supporting bullying in schools or bashing gay people. Only four of the 37 freshmen mentioned "pro-family values" or "traditional marriage" as campaign issues. To learn more about these incoming freshmen, see Emily Ramshaw and Matt Stiles story at The Texas Tribune.

We must acknowledge that regardless of Tuesday's outcome, the 2011 Legislative Session will, by necessity, focus on the state's staggering budget deficit and redistricting.

Given that narrow focus, we will continue to make anti-bullying legislation our #1 policy priority so that not one more child is left to feel hopeless and consider taking their life.  We will seek bipartisan support to pass legislation that provides direction to Texas teachers on how to protect all children from bullying, harassment and discrimination in school, including the children of gay and lesbian parents or teenagers who are or perceived to be gay.

The 2011 Legislative Session commences on January 11th.

Equality Texas will be there. And we need your support.

 

P.S. Save the date! Equality Texas Lobby Day at the Capitol is Monday, March 7, 2011. Make plans now to join us.

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Equality Texas advocates and lobbies for the elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

Our work is only possible with your financial support. Please help.

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