We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. The LGBTQ+ inclusion landscape in Texas, as the Out Leadership report notes, is abysmal.” “Companies are looking through the lens of LGBTQ+ inclusion when making decisions about moving to Texas, and people considering a career move are doing the same, not to mention tourists and conventions. “While our state leadership purports to be pro-business, the attacks on LGBTQ+ Texans say otherwise,” Tammi Wallace, CEO of the Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce, said.
State officials encourage schools and public libraries to ban books that portray LGBT people as normal and worthy of the same respect and civil rights as heterosexuals.
Texas has not banned conversion therapy, which tortures LGBT people. The state does not grant LGBT people access to standard legal protections, provide appropriate health care or guarantee workplace safety. Texas scored poorly in 11 out of 20 policy areas. Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer “Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people creates serious challenges for talent mobility, retention, and development.”īetty Burton shops during The Woodlands Pride annual festival at Town Green Park, Saturday, Oct. “Multinational companies face operational and reputational risks when they do business in places where the legal and/or social atmosphere makes it difficult for LGBTQ+ people to live openly,” the authors explained. Not only does official bigotry hurt Texans and discourage talented people from moving here, but it also discourages corporate investment. Out of a potential 100 points, the average state score was 64.61. TOMLINSON’S TAKE: Don’t do like Disney, oppose Texas’s anti-LGBT laws now Texas ranks near the bottom in the new State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index published by Out Leadership, a coalition of businesses that promote gay rights and counts 94 of the world’s leading companies across 13 industries as members. From proposed “Don’t Say Gay” laws to bans on LGBT books, Republican state leaders are promising to crush the civil rights of people who do not share their religious strictures. Rainbow flags are ubiquitous during Pride Month, but Texas remains a horrible place for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to live, work and do business.Īnti-LGBT bigotry remains a mainstay of Christian conservative politics. Ronald Cortes, Contributor / Getty Images Show More Show Less 5 of5ĭressmaker Maria Chavez, who sews ensembles for a lot of San Antonio drag artists, will receive the Vela Award from Pride San Antonio. BKN Spurs-Nuggets Takeaways at A&T Center on Saturday, Dec. courtesy Show More Show Less 3 of5Ĭloseup of a gay pride flag and a transgender pride flag waving on the blue sky, moved by the wind nito100, Contributor / nito100 Show More Show Less 4 of5Īt the beginning of the game San Antonio Spurs mascot ‘Coyote” runs onto the court celebrating Pride Night. In honor of Pride Month, Flight Club Houston is partnering with The Montrose Center on a Pride signature cocktail. Juan Figueroa, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of5 Cristina Treviño walks to her car while carrying a rainbow design by Yahaira Dehill following the 10th Annual Rainbow on the Green at Discovery Green Conservancy in Houston, Friday, June 21, 2019.