Conservative Christians Pray, March and Chant for Texas Anti-Transgender ‘Bathroom Bill’ (Video)

HB2 Style Bill Would Devastate Transgender Texans, and the Texas Economy

Republican Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and far right wing extremists like anti-LGBT activist Jonathan Saenz are pushing wholly unnecessary legislation that would ban transgender people in Texas from using public, government-owned restrooms and other facilities that conform to their gender identity. 

On Thursday about 100 to 150 conservative Christians joined together, praying, chanting, and marching in support of SB3, an anti-transgender “bathroom bill” that echoes portions of North Carolina’s HB2.

“SB3 mandates HB2-style anti-transgender discrimination in any multiple-occupancy restroom or locker room in any property owned by a city, county, school district, or other political subdivision,” HRC noted last month when it passed the state Senate. “Additionally, it would overturn LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances protecting millions of people across Texas in cities including Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth insofar as those ordinances protect people from discrimination in bathrooms. It also prohibits these entities from forbidding discrimination in athletics on the basis of any characteristic not currently reflected in state law — an obvious jab at transgender athletes.”

Republican State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst‏, the sponsor of SB3, and a sponsor of the failed SB6 before it, was on hand Thursday to support protestors:

Sen. Kolkhorst appears to be using the bill for political gain. House Speaker Joe Straus, a Republican, is blocking SB3, according to NPR. But Kolkhorst hasn’t even asked him why:

Also on hand were members of the far right wing Texas Pastors Council, the anti-gay hate group, Family Research Council, Vision America Action, and Texas Right to Life, according to GLAAD. “If an anti-trans bill like SB 3 is signed into law, it could drain about $3 billion from the state’s economy while also putting the safety of transgender Texans in jeopardy,” GLAAD reports.

Protestors, demanding the House vote and pass SB3, rallied outside the Texas state legislature.

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