Jump to content

LGBTQ rights in Texas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Aqn (talk | contribs) at 04:20, 29 July 2014 (refined reference for Dallas: Dallas, Texas Code of Ordinances, Chapter 46, Article II). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

LGBTQ rights in Texas
Texas (US)
StatusLegal since 2003
(Lawrence v. Texas)
Gender identityNo statewide anti-discrimination laws; sex-change recognized for purposes of marriage licenses
Discrimination protectionsNone (some communities do provide local protections)
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsNone statewide (6 cities and 3 counties maintain domestic partnership registries)
RestrictionsTexas Constitutional Amendment (2005) limits marriage to man/woman, forbids non-marriage types of same-sex unions
AdoptionNo restrictions[citation needed]

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Texas face legal challenges and discrimination not faced by other people. The state denies gays and lesbians the right to marry a same-sex partner both by statute and in its constitution. Texas has a hate crimes statute that strengthens penalties for certain crimes motivated by a victim's sexual orientation, although it has rarely been invoked. Some localities in Texas provide a variety of legal protections and benefits to LGBT people.

Laws regarding same-sex sexual activity

See also: Sodomy laws in the United States before 2003

Until the U. S. Supreme Court in 2003 declared sodomy laws unconstitutional in Lawrence v. Texas, certain sexual acts between persons of the same sex were a criminal offense in Texas, termed "deviate sexual intercourse",[1] The offense was a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.[2] As of April 2011, Texas was one of the four states with statutes criminalizing same-sex sexual acts, along with Oklahoma, Kansas, and Montana.[3] The legislature has failed to act on several proposed bills that would repeal the Texas statute.[citation needed]

The Texas Department of State Health Services has developed model education programs on AIDS and HIV; however, Texas law requires that the "materials in the education programs intended for persons younger than 18 years of age ... state that homosexual conduct is not an acceptable lifestyle and is a criminal offense...."[4] In practice, few school districts include that language about homosexual conduct in their sex education materials.[5] This law also has not been modified since Lawrence v. Texas.

Texas provides an affirmative defense to a person who has engaged in unlawful sexual contact with a child under 17 years of age if the person is not more than three years older than the child. This defense, however, does not apply if the person and the child are of the same sex.[6] Texas has been the only state to make such a distinction since the Kansas Supreme Court found a similar Kansas statute to be unconstitutional in 2005.[7] During the legislature's 2013 regular session, House Bill 2403[8] by Representative Mary González, House Bill 3322[9] by Representative Coleman, and Senate Bill 1316[10] by Senator John Whitmire would have repealed this distinction; however, none of these bills was passed by its chamber of origin.[11][12][13]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

Marriage

Main article: Same-sex marriage in Texas

On February 26, 2014, Judge Orlando Luis Garcia, of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, found that Texas's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.[14] On April 23, 2014, Judge Barbara Nellermoe, of the 45th Judicial District Court of Bexar County, found that Texas's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.[15] Both cases are being appealed by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.[16][17]

Domestic partner benefits provided by governmental entities

Main article: Recognition of same-sex unions in Texas
Map of Texas counties and cities that offer domestic partner benefits either county-wide or in particular cities.
  City offers domestic partner benefits
  County-wide partner benefits through domestic partnership
  County or city does not offer domestic partner benefits

Austin,[18] Dallas,[19] Fort Worth,[20] El Paso,[21] Houston,[22] and San Antonio[23] provide health insurance to domestic partners of city workers. In 2001, 52 percent of Houston voters approved Proposition 2, an amendment to the city charter prohibiting the city from providing domestic partner benefits for city employees.[24] The amendment, however, specifically permits benefits to be provided to “legal spouses” of employees, and in November 2013, the city's legal department determined it would be unlawful to continue to deny spousal benefits for legally married same-sex couples.

The Pflugerville Independent School District allows domestic partners of district workers to be included in the district's health insurance plan, although the workers must pay the entire cost of the coverage as they do for any dependent.[25][26]

Dallas County pays cash subsidies to help cover the cost of individual insurance policies purchased by the domestic partners of county employees. The amount of the subsidy is the same as the amount the county contributes to the group insurance plan that covers county employees, which in October 2012 was $300 per month. The county was unable to add the domestic partners to the group plan because the two other counties participating in the plan, Denton and Tarrant, opposed it.[27][28]

Travis County allows the domestic partners of county employees to participate as dependents in the county's group insurance plan.[29]

El Paso County provides health benefits to unmarried partners of county employees.[30]

Bexar County allows county employee benefits to be extended to domestic partners.[31]

2013 Texas attorney general opinion

Main article: 2013 Texas attorney general opinion

In April 2013, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, in response to a legislator's request, provided his legal opinion that the Texas Constitution prohibits a political subdivision of the state from providing benefits based on a status like "domestic partnership" because it is "similar to marriage".[32] In response, officials in Travis County and Fort Worth defended the legality of their domestic partnership benefits,[33] as did those in other jurisdictions who minimized the significance of the opinion.[34][35] The Austin Independent School District at first decided not to offer health benefits to the domestic partners of its employees,[36] but changed its position in August.[37]

Adoption of children

In Texas, any adult may adopt a child without regard to the adult's sexual orientation or gender identity.[38] Lesbian couples can access IVF and assisted insemination treatment.[citation needed]

Texas statutes do not prohibit same-sex second-parent adoptions or adoption by a same-sex couple and state courts have on occasion approved such adoptions. The Texas Courts of Appeals has not considered the question directly but has said that a lower court's approval of an adoption by a same-sex couple did not represent a "fundamental error".[39]

A court may not issue a supplemental birth certificate for a child adopted by two men or two women.[40] The primary purpose of the certificate is to prove the parent/child relationship to outside entities, such as schools, insurance companies, and passport offices.[41] On November 15, 2012, Representative Rafael Anchia introduced House Bill 201 for the legislature's 2013 regular session.[41] The bill would have deleted the prohibition against issuing a supplemental birth certificate for a child adopted by two men or two women.[42] The bill died in the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence committee of the House of Representatives.[43]

Discrimination protection

State law

Texas state law does not protect employees from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.[44] Since at least 1999, no bill prohibiting discrimination by employers based on sexual orientation or gender identity has made it out of the committee stage in the Texas legislature.[45] During the legislature's 2013 regular session, House Bill 238[46] by Representative Mike Villarreal, House Bill 1146[47] by Representative Eric Johnson, and Senate Bill 237[48] by Senator Leticia Van de Putte would have prohibited this discrimination; however, all these bills died in their respective committees.[49][50][51]

Texas state law does not protect persons from housing or public accommodations discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.[52] House Bill 2215 by Representative Jessica Farrar in the legislature's 2009 regular session would have prohibited this discrimination;[53] however, the bill died in the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence committee of the house of representatives.[54]

Texas state law does not protect persons from insurance discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. During the legislature's 2013 regular session, House Bill 206[55] by Representative Senfronia Thompson, House Bill 541[56] by Representative Robert Alonzo, and Senate Bill 73[57] by Senator Rodney Ellis would have prohibited this discrimination; however, all these bills died in their respective committees.[58][59][60]

Municipal laws

Map of Texas counties and cities that have sexual orientation and/or gender identity anti–employment discrimination ordinances
  Sexual orientation and gender identity with anti–employment discrimination ordinance
  Sexual orientation with anti–employment discrimination ordinance
  Sexual orientation and gender identity solely in public employment
  Sexual orientation in public employment
  Does not protect sexual orientation and gender identity in employment

The following Texas municipalities have ordinances prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity: Austin,[61] Brownsville,[62] Houston,[63] Dallas,[64] Dallas County,[65] Fort Worth,[66][67] and El Paso,[68] San Antonio,[69] Waco,[70] and Walker County.[71]

The cities of Grand Prairie[62] and Lubbock[62] have ordinances prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation only.

Hate crimes law

On May 11, 2001, Governor Rick Perry signed House Bill 587,[72] popularly but unofficially known as the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act,[73] which strengthened penalties for certain crimes motivated by a victim's race, color, disability, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, gender, or sexual preference. This legislation did not cover gender identity.[n 1] House Bill 3324 by Representative Garnet Coleman in the legislature's 2013 regular session would have added gender identity or expression to the hate crimes law;[74] however, the bill died in the Criminal Jurisprudence committee of the house of representatives.[75]

In the first decade after the law took effect on September 1, 2001, local law enforcement agencies have reported about 200 crimes per year as hate crimes. However, fewer than one case a year on average has been successfully prosecuted in Texas as a hate crime.[76]

Sex reassignment

In 2009, the Texas legislature authorized a court order relating to a person's sex change to be acceptable proof of identity for a marriage license.[77]

For geographical areas under the jurisdiction of the Texas Court of Appeals in San Antonio, the 1999 case Littleton v. Prange defined that, for purposes of determining the validity of a marriage, a person's sex is determined at birth and is not changed by surgery or drug therapy.[78] This ruling allowed a person born male who transitioned to female to marry a woman in that court's jurisdiction.[79][80] In February 2014, the Texas Court of Appeals in Corpus Christi held that state law had changed since Littleton and now recognized sex reassignment, so that parties to a lawsuit contesting whether or not a marriage was an invalid same-sex marriage or a valid different-sex marriage needed to have their dispute heard by a trial court.[81]

National Guard

Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in United States v. Windsor in June 2013 invalidating Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, the U.S. Department of Defense issued directives requiring state units of the National Guard to enroll the same-sex spouses of guard members in federal benefit programs. Texas National Guard officials initially refused to comply, instead requiring Guard members to travel to federal facilities to do so.[82] Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on October 31 said he would insist on compliance.[83] On November 26, Texas agreed to conform with DoD policy stating that state workers would be considered federal workers while enrolling same-sex couples for benefits.[84]

Politics

The Texas Republican Party holds all statewide offices in Texas and controls both houses of the Texas legislature.[85] Its 2012 party platform contained numerous statements against LGBT rights.[86]

Governor Rick Perry, a Republican, is known for his socially conservative views on homosexuality, opposes same-sex marriage,[87] and dismissed the Lawrence v. Texas U. S. Supreme Court decision as the product of "nine oligarchs in robes".[3]

The Texas Democratic Party added certain LGBT rights to the party's platform in 1980,[88] and included same-sex marriage rights in its 2012 platform,[89] becoming the first Democratic state party in the southern United States to do so.[90]

Opinion polls

Since 2009, Texans between the ages of 18 and 29 have increasingly supported same-sex marriage at a faster rate than that of the general population. In June 2009, the University of Texas found that 49 percent of that age group supported same-sex marriage as opposed to 29 percent of the general population. In February 2013, it found that 59 percent of them did so while only 37 percent of the general population had the same opinion. Opposition from Texans between the ages of 18 and 29 dropped 12 points in the same period, from 28 to 16 percent. At the same time, opposition from the general population in Texan dropped 5 points, from 52.7 percent to 47.5 percent.[107] Glengariff Group, Inc., in conjunction with the pro-LGBT rights Equality Texas Foundation, found that support in that age group rose from 53.6 percent in 2010 to 67.9 percent in 2013 while within the general population in Texas, support rose from 42.7 percent to 47.9 percent.[108]

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal Yes (since 2003)
Equal age of consent Yes
Anti-discrimination state laws for sexual orientation No
Anti-discrimination state laws for gender identity or expression No
Hate crime laws include sexual orientation No
Hate crime laws include gender identity or expression No
Recognition in state law of same-sex couples as domestic partners No
Step adoption by same-sex couples Yes[38]
Joint adoption by same-sex couples Yes[38]
Access to IVF for lesbians Yes [clarification needed]
Same-sex marriages No[109]
MSMs allowed to donate blood No

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "(a) In the trial of an offense under Title 5, Penal Code, or Section 28.02, 28.03, or 28.08, Penal Code, the judge shall make an affirmative finding of fact and enter the affirmative finding in the judgment of the case if at the guilt or innocence phase of the trial, the judge or the jury, whichever is the trier of fact, determines beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant intentionally selected the person against whom the offense was committed or intentionally selected property damaged or affected as a result of the offense because of the defendant's bias or prejudice against a group identified by race, color, disability, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, gender, or sexual preference. (c) In this article, "sexual preference" has the following meaning only: a preference for heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality." "Article 42.014 of the Code of Criminal Procedure". Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.

References

  1. ^ "Section 21.01(1) of the Texas Penal Code". Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  2. ^ "Section 12.23 of the Texas Penal Code". Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Murphy, Tim (April 19, 2011). "MAP: Has Your State Banned Sodomy?". Mother Jones. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  4. ^ "Texas Health and Safety Code sec. 85.007(b)". Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  5. ^ admin (January 13, 2011). ""Crime of 'homosexual conduct' still on the books in Texas", ''The Washington Independent'', January 13, 2011". Washingtonindependent.com. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  6. ^ "Texas Penal Code sec. 21.11(b)". Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  7. ^ ""Bias Ruled in Law On Same-Sex Rape", ''The Washington Post'', reported by Charles Lane, October 22, 2005". Washingtonpost.com. October 22, 2005. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  8. ^ "House Bill 2403 - Introduced Text, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  9. ^ "House Bill 3322 - Introduced Text, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  10. ^ "Senate Bill 1316 - Introduced Text, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  11. ^ "House Bill 2403 History, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013". Legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  12. ^ "House Bill 3322 History, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013". Legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  13. ^ "Senate Bill 1316 History, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013". Legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  14. ^ Brubaker Calkins, Laurel (February 27, 2014). "Texas Gay-Marriage Ban Held Illegal as Judge Delays Order". Bloomberg News. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  15. ^ "Judge: Texas can't bar gay marriage — or divorce". Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  16. ^ Snow, Justin (February 26, 2014). "Federal court finds Texas ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional". Metro Weekly. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  17. ^ "State Attorney General Challanges Bexar County Same-Sex Divorce". Retrieved June 29, 2014.[dead link]
  18. ^ ""Domestic Partnership Affidavit and Agreement", City of Austin Texas" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  19. ^ "AFFIDAVIT OF DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP" (PDF). City of Dallas. August 2004. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  20. ^ "Employee Benefits, Human Resources, City of Fort Worth". Fortworthtexas.gov. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  21. ^ "In El Paso, a Storm Over Benefits for Gay Partners", The New York Times, reported by Brandi Grissom, October 1, 2011
  22. ^ "Houston Mayor: Benefits will be offered to same-sex spouses of city employees". kens5.com. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  23. ^ ""What You Need to Know", Civilian Employees, Human Resources Department, City of San Antonio". Sanantonio.gov. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  24. ^ ""Major Ballot Victories in Michigan and Florida; Loss in Houston", ''Common Dreams'', November 7, 2001". Commondreams.org. November 7, 2001. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  25. ^ Wolfson, Shannon (October 8, 2012). ""PISD offers domestic partner benefits", reported by Shannon Wolfson, KXAN.com, October 8, 2012". Kxan.com. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  26. ^ ""Pflugerville ISD Extends Domestic Partner Benefits to Employees", ''KUT News'', reported by Tyler Pratt and Laurie Johnson, December 14, 2012". Kutnews.org. December 14, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  27. ^ ""Dallas County Approves Domestic Partner Insurance Subsidy That Includes Same-Sex Couples", ''The Huffington Post'', filed by Curtis M. Wong, October 31, 2012". Huffingtonpost.com. October 31, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  28. ^ ""Dallas County Domestic Partners Program", Dallas County Human Resources". Dallascounty.org. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  29. ^ "Travis County Employee Benefits Guide FY 13: October 1, 2012 - September 30, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  30. ^ Flores, Aileen B. ""El Paso County Commissioners Court OKs benefits for employees' partners", ''El Paso Times'', reported by Aileen B. Flores, August 14, 2012". Elpasotimes.com. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  31. ^ "Domestic Partner Benefits Approved For Bexar County Employees". tpr.org. February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  32. ^ "Opinion GA-1003, Texas Attorney General, April 29, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  33. ^ Llorca, Juan Carlos (May 3, 2013). "Attorney General's same-sex opinion doesn't worry entities". Kxan.com. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  34. ^ Burbank, Whitney; Martinez, Leonard (April 30, 2013). "Texas AG: Domestic partner benefits unconstitutional, Bishop Tom Brown threatens city with lawsuit". Kvia.com. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  35. ^ Ramirez, Cindy (June 27, 2013). "Justices strike down DOMA: El Paso gay groups, officials cheer shift toward equality". El Paso Times. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  36. ^ Taboada, Melissa B. (June 28, 2013). "AISD will not offer health benefits to domestic partners". Statesman.com. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  37. ^ "AG Greg Abbott: City & ISD Domestic Partner Benefits Unconstitutional". Texas Public Radio. April 30, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  38. ^ a b c "Texas Family Code sec. 162.001". Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  39. ^ "Texas Adoption Law". State Laws & Legislation. Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  40. ^ "Texas Health and Safety Code sec. 192.008(a) requires that a supplemental birth certificate "be in the names of the adoptive parents, one of whom must be a female, named as the mother, and the other of whom must be a male, named as the father."". Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  41. ^ a b John Wright (November 15, 2012). "Rep. Anchia files that gay adoption bill that Sen. Carona said he would support". Dallas Voice. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  42. ^ "House Bill 201 - Introduced Text, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  43. ^ "House Bill 201 History, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013". Capitol.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  44. ^ "Texas Labor Code sec. 21.051". Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  45. ^ ""Bill would stop Texas employers' discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity", ''The Texas Independent'', reported by Patrick Brendel, January 14, 2011". Americanindependent.com. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  46. ^ "House Bill 238 - Introduced Text, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  47. ^ "House Bill 1146 - Introduced Text, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  48. ^ "Senate Bill 237 - Introduced Text, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  49. ^ "House Bill 238 History, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013". Capitol.state.tx.us. April 24, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  50. ^ "House Bill 1146 History, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013". Legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  51. ^ "Senate Bill 237 History, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013". Legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  52. ^ "Texas Property Code sec. 301.021(a)-(b)". Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  53. ^ "House Bill 2215 - Introduced Text, 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  54. ^ "House Bill 2215 History, 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009". Capitol.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  55. ^ "House Bill 206 - Introduced Text, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  56. ^ "House Bill 541 - Introduced Text, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  57. ^ "Senate Bill 73 - Introduced Text, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  58. ^ "House Bill 226 History, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013". Legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  59. ^ "House Bill 541 History, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013". Legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  60. ^ "Senate Bill 73 History, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013". Legis.state.tx.us. January 28, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  61. ^ "Chapters 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 of the Austin City Code". Amlegal.com. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  62. ^ a b c "Municipal Equality Index" (PDF). Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  63. ^ "City of Houston, Code Of Ordinances, Chapter 17, Article I, Sec. 17-1". Think Progress. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  64. ^ "Dallas, Texas Code of Ordinances, Chapter 46, Article II". Amlegal.com. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  65. ^ "Cities and Counties with Non-Discrimination Ordinances that Include Gender Identity". Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
  66. ^ "Fort Worth City Ordinance, Chapter 17, Article 1, Sec. 17-1" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  67. ^ "Fort Worth City Council Ordinance 18909-11-2009, adopted November 10, 2009" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  68. ^ Burge, David (July 22, 2009). ""Resolution upholds city discrimination ban", ''El Paso Times'', reported by David Burge, July 22, 2009". Elpasotimes.com. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  69. ^ Weber, Paul J. (September 5, 2013). "City of San Antonio Non-Discrimination Ordinance" (PDF). ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  70. ^ "Waco adds protections for LGBT city employees". washingtonblade. June 4, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  71. ^ "EEOP Short Form, Office of Justice Programs, United States Department of Justice, form completed by Walker County, Texas, January 14, 2010" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  72. ^ "Enrolled version of House Bill 587, 77th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2001". Legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  73. ^ ""Texas Governor Signs Hate Crimes Bill", reported by the ''Associated Press'', ''Ross Institute Internet Archives, May 12, 2001". Culteducation.com. May 12, 2001. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  74. ^ "House Bill 3324 - Introduced Text, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  75. ^ "House Bill 3324 History, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013". Legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  76. ^ ""Texas hate crime law has little effect", ''Austin American-Statesman'', reported by Eric Dexheimer, January 21, 2012". Statesman.com. January 24, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  77. ^ "Texas Family Code sec. 2.005(b)(8)". Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  78. ^ "''Littleton v. Prange'', 9 S.W.3d 223, 231 (Tex. App. − San Antonio 1999, pet. denied)". Scholar.google.com. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  79. ^ "Lesbian Couple Get License to Wed; Transsexual Ruling Clears the Way", Adolfo Pesquera, San Antonio Express-News, September 7, 2000
  80. ^ ""Abbott Declines Transgender Marriage Question", reported by Chuck Lindell, ''Austin American-Statesman'', August 10, 2010". Statesman.com. August 10, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  81. ^ In the estate of Thomas Trevino Araguez II, Deceased, accessed February 13, 2014
  82. ^ Oppel Jr., Richard A. (November 10, 2013). "Texas and 5 Other States Resist Processing Benefits for Gay Couples". New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  83. ^ Johnson, Chris (October 31, 2013). "Hagel to direct nat'l guards to offer same-sex benefits". Washington Blade. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  84. ^ Zimmerman, Ann; Campoy, Ana (November 27, 2013). "Texas National Guard to begin letting same-sex couples register for benefits". Fox News. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  85. ^ "History of the Republican Party of Texas", Republic Party of Texas, 2011, last accessed January 19, 2011[dead link]
  86. ^ "2012 Texas Republican Party Platform" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  87. ^ Catholic Online (August 30, 2011). ""Presidential Candidate Rick Perry Signs Pledge Opposing Same-Sex Marriage", ''Catholic Online'', reported by Matt Cover for ''CNSNews'', August 30, 2011". Catholic.org. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  88. ^ "Texas Democrats OK Gay Rights Plank". EBSCOhost Connection. November 13, 1980. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  89. ^ Guo, Angela (June 11, 2012). "Three State Democratic Parties Add Marriage Equality To Their 2012 Platform". Think Progress. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  90. ^ Lindell, Chuck (September 3, 2012). "Platform vote on same-sex marriage at Democratic convention called historic". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  91. ^ "GLBT TEXAS ISSUES SURVEY" (PDF). Glengariff Group, Inc. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  92. ^ a b "Texas Survey Results, Public Policy Polling, Question 2, September 15-18, 2011" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  93. ^ a b "Clinton could win Texas in 2016" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  94. ^ "GLBT TEXAS ISSUES SURVEY" (PDF). Glengariff Group, Inc. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  95. ^ a b "Cornyn favored for reelection despite low approval" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. July 3, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  96. ^ "A Decade of Change in American Attitudes about Same-Sex Marriage and LGBT Issues" (PDF). Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  97. ^ "University of Texas, Government Department, Texas Statewide Survey, Field Dates: June 11-22, 2009, Question 38, page 12" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  98. ^ "Texas Lyceum Poll, Spring 2009, Texas Statewide Survey, Field Dates: June 5-12, 2009, Question 55, page 11" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  99. ^ "University of Texas / Texas Tribune, Texas Statewide Survey, Field Dates: February 1-7, 2010, Question 41, page 11" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  100. ^ "Texas Lyceum Poll, Fall 2010, Texas Statewide Survey, Field Dates: September 22-30, 2010, Question 27, page 11" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  101. ^ "University of Texas / Texas Tribune, Texas Statewide Survey, Field Dates: May 11-18, 2011, Question 24, page 7" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  102. ^ "University of Texas / Texas Tribune, Texas Statewide Survey, Field Dates: February 8-15, 2012, Question 43, page 14" (PDF). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  103. ^ "University of Texas / Texas Tribune, Texas Statewide Survey". Laits.utexas.edu. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  104. ^ "University of Texas / Texas Tribune, Texas Statewide Survey". Laits.utexas.edu. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  105. ^ "UT/TT Poll: Partisan Splits on Guns in Texas". The Texas Tribune. June 21, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  106. ^ Sullivan, Sean. "How a gay marriage ban was just struck down in one of the most conservative states". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  107. ^ "The Polling Center: Texans' View of Gay Marriage Shifts". Texas Tribune. March 26, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  108. ^ "GLBT TEXAS ISSUES SURVEY" (PDF). Glengariff Group, Inc. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  109. ^ "Texas Family Code sec. 6.204". Statutes.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LGBTQ_rights_in_Texas&oldid=618918134"