Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Texas: "Bathroom Bill" Dies Again As Special Legislative Session Ends


From NBC News:

A Texas "bathroom bill" targeting transgender people died again late Tuesday along with many of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's summer demands as an already bruising legislative session was derailed by Republican backbiting that could preview an even nastier 2018 primary season.

It is the second time that North Carolina-style bathroom restrictions have failed to pass in Texas, and Abbott gave no indication he would order weary lawmakers to stay in Austin and try again - which would risk a third failure over what has erupted into one of the most high-profile bills in any U.S. legislature.

Corporate heavyweights from Amazon to Exxon Mobil lined up against the measure, as did some top law enforcement agencies, and opponents celebrated the latest failure despite the support from the governor and influential social conservatives who drive GOP politics and primaries in Texas.

"Today's victory shows what can happen when transgender Americans and their allies stay vigilant and push back against legislation that helps no one and harms many," said Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, a national LGBT rights group.

JoDee Winterhof, senior vice president for policy and political affairs at the Human Rights Campaign, issued a statement which read in part, “We hope that this time, this issue remains settled: Texans don’t want harmful, anti-transgender legislation. First and foremost, these bills were defeated because of the many voices that came out in opposition, saying, ‘don’t discriminate in the Lone Star State.’

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