GetEQUAL Texas Issues Travel Alert For LGBT Travelers To San Antonio

The Texas state chapter of LGBT civil rights group GetEQUAL today issued a travel alert to LGBT people planning on visiting the city of San Antonio. Citing “a continued risk of discrimination based upon sexual orientation and/or gender identity,” GetEQUAL Texas notes the “City of San Antonio does not currently protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (“LGBT”) people from being legally ejected from their hotel rooms or other places of public accommodation.”

Recently, San Antonio city councilwoman Elisa Chan has come under fire for her transphobic and homophobic comments that were recorded at a staff strategy meeting on how to minimize damage from her plans to vote against a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance.

LISTEN: Secret Audio Reveals City Councilwoman’s Extreme Homophobia And Anti-Gay Strategies

LOOK: TX Councilwoman Defends Leaked Homophobic Comments As Her ‘First Amendment’ Right

The travel advisory notes, “those supporting discrimination have been seen screaming obscenities and derogatory slurs in the faces of LGBT people on the streets of San Antonio.”

These opponents of equality have targeted LGBT people at and near City Hall, and within various city parks.

Those who are required to travel to San Antonio are encouraged to take the following precautions:

Avoid traveling alone in the city.
Only book travel at hotels which have policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Visit only known LGBT-friendly establishments, including restaurants, bars and venues (see http://www.glyp.com for a listing of some locations).
Be aware of your surroundings and adopt other appropriate safety measures to protect yourself while traveling.

The travel alert adds:

“Having been raised in San Antonio, I’ve experienced discrimination repeatedly within the borders of the city,” said Jay Morris, Co-Lead Organizer for GetEQUAL Texas. “Despite calling the San Antonio Police Department after being the victim of a violent hate crime, I was removed from the building and my attackers walked free. No police report was filed and I had no mechanism after the attack to report the incident or to help prevent such an event from happening in the future. If the City Council refuses to pass this non-discrimination ordinance, I worry for the safety of other LGBT residents of and travelers to the city.”

“The rule of law in San Antonio supports discrimination, plain and simple,” added Jennifer Falcon, San Antonio Lead Organizer for GetEQUAL Texas. “Our local officials are dragging their feet, there is no state law to help us, and there are no federal laws in place we can rely on for protection. If the city really wants to welcome all people, they would take action immediately to pass this non-discrimination ordinance and end the fear of discrimination by LGBT travelers to our city.”

Adam Greenup, the LGBT Liaison to Mayor Julian Castro, has indicated that a vote on the proposed ordinance amendments will take place on September 5, 2013 — though after many previous such promises of votes, local advocates are not optimistic. “The City Council has delayed this vote over and over again. With every delay, San Antonio sends the message to LGBT visitors that they are not welcome in our city,” said Falcon.

Editor’s note: Jay Morris is also a contributing writer to The New Civil Rights Movement.