Bills target LGBT rights and resources

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte's bill would ban job bias based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Sen. Leticia Van de Putte's bill would ban job bias based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Bills target LGBT rights and resources 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — Efforts to expand rights and resources for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Texans are meeting both quiet and vocal opposition as policymakers debate equal rights and religious freedoms.

Two bills in the state Legislature and one in the Texas A&M Student Senate could have a major impact on LGBT rights in the workplace and resources provided at college campuses in the state.

Senate Bill 237, by state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, would ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Texas but likely will face opposition in the Republican-controlled Legislature.

State Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, who serves as the chairman of the committee, said the anti-discrimination bill doesn't have enough support to pass on to the full Senate.

Two business groups and two Christian conservative groups registered their opposition to the bill but didn't testify.

Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, was flanked by members of the LGBT community Wednesday at a Senate Economic Development Committee hearing where she likened equal rights for gay and lesbians to the Civil Rights Movement and women's suffrage.

“These are factors that have nothing to do with their performance, skill set or ability, but only based upon who they love,” Van de Putte said.

Retired Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, who was the first American soldier to receive a Purple Heart in the Iraq War, told lawmakers at the hearing that current law allows employers to discriminate against him because he's gay.

“It is time that this state recognizes people for who they are on their merit, their leadership and their professionalism,” said Alva, who had his right leg amputated after stepping on a mine.

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On the other side of the issue, a proposal in the Texas House from state Rep. Bill Zedler, a Republican from Arlington, would defund LGBT resource centers on college campuses in the state, alleging they promote and support “high risk behavior for AIDS, HIV, Hepatitis B, and any sexually transmitted disease.”

Zedler, who did not return multiple requests for comment, is attempting to attach the proposal to the state appropriations bill as an amendment. The House on Thursday will debate the must-pass appropriations bill, which has 267 total amendments filed.

A similar proposal, authored by a conservative member of the Texas A&M Student Government, would recommend the university provide a way for students who oppose paying an activity fee because of “religious or moral purposes” to apply for reimbursement of the fee.

The bill, authored two weeks ago by student Sen. Chris Woolsey, originally was titled “The GLBT Funding Opt-Out Bill” but was changed to “The Religious Funding Exemption Bill” and the verbiage widened to not “target a specific group” Woolsey said.

Fernando Sosa, who chairs the Student Senate Finance committee, said he originally was opposed to the bill but changed his mind after amendments were made. The LGBT resource center at the school receives about $100,000 annually, he said.

Carlos Garza, an architecture senior at Texas A&M who is gay, said he hasn't had trouble with discrimination at the school in the past, but is feeling targeted by the proposal.

“Paying fees for all organizations that support the university community is the way it has always worked,” Garza said. “You don't get to pick and choose which ones you like. I feel like (the bill) is going to hurt (Texas) A&M as a whole.”

Jason Cook, a spokesman for Texas A&M, said it is unclear whether the administration would heed the nonbinding resolution, partly because it would put the university in charge of deeming complaints valid based on religion.

“The big question is who is to judge if something is religious or moral in nature” Cook said.