TL;DR
- Texas AG Ken Paxton sues over a trans-inclusive swimming event.
- Texas Tech University faculty report harmful changes to curricula.
- Houston holds a vigil for transgender woman Persia Amarra Conway.
- Community members demand justice and awareness for Conway’s case.
- The situation in Texas raises concerns for LGBTQ rights.
Not to put you (more) on the spot, but seriously Texas, is there something in the water or what? The latest “really?” news to come out of the Lone Star State: Ken Paxton, the infamous attorney general and Republican Senate candidate who just can’t stop talking about transgender kids, announced that the state is suing a city over a—wait for it—transgender-inclusive swimming event organized by local LGBTQ+ charities that hasn’t even happened yet. Talk about jumping the gun!
But hold on, it gets juicier. Perhaps Mr. Paxton should take a moment to read the survey results released by Texas Tech University’s Faculty Senate. According to reports, new guidelines eliminating references to sexual orientation and gender identity from coursework have forced nearly half of surveyed faculty members to make changes they described as harmful to their curricula. One faculty member even remarked: “I will be leaving my job in the coming months because of this. I cannot and will not work at a place like this, and I will tell my network to not come here (students and faculty).” Sounds like a real mess, doesn’t it?
And as if that weren’t enough, tonight in Texas, specifically Houston, LGBTQ+ folks and allies are expected to gather for a candlelight vigil in honor of Persia Amarra Conway, a 33-year-old transgender woman whose body was found near the Brays Bayou waterway in May. Samantha Allen reports that the vigil will also encourage greater awareness about Conway’s case, which so far has produced no arrests and no information from police during the investigation. “Her mother promised to speak her name. So will we,” the community declares, as they rally for justice and remembrance.
Alright Texans, we’re done roasting you (for now). But seriously, be more like Colorado. Until next time, stay fabulous and fight for your rights!