The Texas Legislature is having big battles over gender and sexuality...

[Jessica_Rose]

The Texas Legislature is having big battles over gender and sexuality. Track them here.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-texas-legislature-is-having-big-battles-over-gender-and-sexuality-track-them-here/ar-AA1CSvTx?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=c9060fdabb4c437c811e3a04eb417565&ei=42

Story by Eleanor Klibanoff (14 Apr 2025)

As fundamental questions of gender and sexuality dominate Republican priorities at the state and federal level, the Texas Legislature is considering a record number of anti-trans bills this session.

Perhaps the greatest concern for LGBTQ+ advocates this session are the so-called "sex definition" bills that seek to define male and female as two separate, unchanging sets of physical characteristics assigned at birth.

In 2017, conservative Texas legislators tried to pass a "bathroom bill" requiring that people use a facility that aligned with the sex they were assigned at birth. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pushed lawmakers into a special session over the issue, but business interests killed it at the last minute.

There have been similar bathroom bills filed each session since, but the issue may get more attention this session after national battles over bathroom privacy have reared their head under the pink dome.

There have been a slew of bills filed addressing what role schools can play in supporting a student's gender transition. Texas has outlawed a wide range of transition-related medical services for minors, but some trans young people still choose to socially transition, meaning changing their names, pronouns and how they present themselves.

Last session, Texas passed a law prohibiting drag performers from dancing suggestively or wearing certain items in front of children. Just a few weeks after the law went into effect, a federal judge struck it down, saying it was unconstitutional.

Some lawmakers are trying again this year.