Texas House votes to strictly define man and woman, excluding trans people from state records

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/texas-house-votes-to-strictly-define-man-and-woman-excluding-trans-people-from-state-records/ar-AA1ExwSj?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=9d2a5cc3bb844e89a0c314a7b298d9e5&ei=76

Story by Eleanor Klibanoff (10 May 2025)

House Bill 229 strictly defines men and women based on the reproductive organs they were born with, and orders state records to reflect this binary. The bill, titled the "Women's Bill of Rights," lays out the "biological truth for anybody who is confused," said author Rep. Ellen Troxclair, an Austin Republican.

The bill passed on second reading 86-36 after an at times tense debate, and is expected to be finally approved next week before going to the Senate, which has already passed several bills with a similar focus.

Surrounded by a cadre of Republican women, Troxclair said the goal of the bill was to ensure women's rights aren't "eroded by activists" as more people come out as trans and nonbinary. Democrats argued against the bill for almost three hours with Rep. Jessica González, D-Dallas, saying "it is harmful, it is dangerous, and it is really freaking insulting."

If this bill becomes law, more than 120,000 trans Texans would be forced to be defined in state records by the sex they were assigned at birth, rather than the gender they identify as, even if they've already legally changed their birth certificates and driver's licenses.

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on May 11, 2025, 08:58:02 PMSurrounded by a cadre of Republican women, Troxclair said the goal of the bill was to ensure women's rights aren't "eroded by activists" as more people come out as trans and nonbinary.

At the very least, they've acknowledged what we already know... more and more people will continue to come out as trans and nonbinary.

My hope is that the courts will see through the rhetoric of irrational fear and uphold the constitutional promise of dignity, equality, and justice for all.

My heart is with every trans and nonbinary Texan.


~ Lilis 💗

https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/10/texas-house-trans-bills-advance/

Another article on the same topic.  The vote 86 to 36 margin was surprising.   

All of this just makes me sad. It's like saying "no, Paracetamol is evil... let's go back to Trepanning."

Give it 20 years and the poles will flip again.

For everything good in people, we have a really nasty part of us which loves to be led around like sheep in a herd.

I have to wonder if all this obsession with defining the sexes is more about compensation for their feelings of inadequacy.

Most people in all aspects of the LGBTQ+ community are fairly relaxed and at ease with who they are. The hardliners seem to be trying to overcome their own homophobia/transphobia by trying too hard to assure everyone else that they are straight and 100% male or female; therefore, everyone else is wrong and/or evil.

Quote from: Lori Dee on May 12, 2025, 08:51:39 PMI have to wonder if all this obsession with defining the sexes is more about compensation for their feelings of inadequacy.

Most people in all aspects of the LGBTQ+ community are fairly relaxed and at ease with who they are. The hardliners seem to be trying to overcome their own homophobia/transphobia by trying too hard to assure everyone else that they are straight and 100% male or female; therefore, everyone else is wrong and/or evil.

I suspect it's more to fire up the human propensity to blame other people for life, lori. No matter how little sense it makes. Blame trans people, or imigrants, or imigrant trans people for the double whammy. It's just about shifting the focus because people don't ever want to look at theselves. They only want to blame people for anything who find it difficult to fight back. That's my view. It's easy to punch someone who can't defend themselves.

Doesn't make you a tough guy. It makes you a bully. And sooner or later, people are going to see that and be like "What the hell did we do, voting for this clown?"

Anyone heard from TxSara? How is she feeling about this?

Quote from: Allison R on May 12, 2025, 10:23:23 PMAnyone heard from TxSara? How is she feeling about this?

Not for a long time, sadly. We do have one stand up Texan dude here though. @Adrian26. He's dealing with some stuff though. Probably a small blip on his radar.

Quote from: Sephirah on May 12, 2025, 10:40:26 PMNot for a long time, sadly. We do have one stand up Texan dude here though. @Adrian26. He's dealing with some stuff though. Probably a small blip on his radar.

It's worrying and wish it was different, but it is what it is. I can always move somewhere else.