Two hundred faith leaders, opposing bathroom bill, urge equal treatment for gay, transgender Texans

Texas’ nearly $129 billion tourism industry could lose $3.3 billion each year if Texas lawmakers approved legislation restricting bathroom usage by transgender men and women, according to a new study by The Perryman Group. less Texas’ nearly $129 billion tourism industry could lose $3.3 billion each year if Texas lawmakers approved legislation restricting bathroom usage by transgender men and women, according to a new study by The ... more Photo: Sara D. Davis /Getty Images Photo: Sara D. Davis /Getty Images Image 1 of / 36 Caption Close Two hundred faith leaders, opposing bathroom bill, urge equal treatment for gay, transgender Texans 1 / 36 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN - Some 200 ministers, rabbis and other religious leaders wrote to select House members Thursday asking them to support policies that treat lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Texans on an equal basis with other people.

The letter went to lawmakers including members of the House State Affairs Committee, which is considering legislation that would restrict the restrooms transgender people can use. The religious leaders didn’t confine their message to the bathroom bill, although they cited it among other legislation.

“Our faith compels us to oppose anti-transgender legislation (‘bathroom bills), discriminatory laws masquerading as “religious freedom,” or any other attempts to treat Texas’ LGBT community as second-class citizens,” said the letter from Texas Believes, which according to its website is a project of the Texas Freedom Network and Equality Texas.

The Texas Freedom Network describes itself as a watchdog of far-right issues and a defender of individual liberties. Equality Texas works for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Texans,

“We will continue to speak out against all attempts to use religion to demonize, discriminate against or bring harm to our LGBT sisters and brothers. And we encourage you, as leaders in our state, to support policies that treat all Texans equally under the law, including the LGBT community,” said the letter.

Besides State Affairs members, the letter went to House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, who opposes a bathroom bill approved by the Senate; Rep. Ron Simmons, R-Carrollton, the author of a House version of the bathroom bill; and several members of the Calendars Committee, which schedules legislation for House debate.

The faith community is divided on the bathroom bill. Its top legislative champion, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, has promised to mobilize 1 million Christians in the effort to pass such a measure, and a number of pastors have spoken out in favor of the legislation.

The Texas Senate has approved Senate Bill 6, which would specify that people use restrooms, dressing rooms and locker rooms in government buildings, schools and universities that align with the gender on their birth certificates.

The House committee is considering House Bill 2899. As it stands, that bill would prohibit city and school district policies that protect groups from discrimination if those groups aren’t already protected by state or federal law. It would affect only policies on restrooms, locker rooms and changing facilities. Simmons is working on changes to the measure.

Among those listed as signing the letter from San Antonio are the Rev. Dr. Edward Kern of Trinity Lutheran and Rabbi Mara Nathan of Temple Beth-El.

pfikac@express-news.net

Twitter: @pfikac