Bathroom Bill

Public entities are required to “take every reasonable step” to ensure people are using the bathroom designated for the sex they were assigned at birth. But what counts as “reasonable” across publicly owned buildings in Austin is still largely unclear.

Texas lawmakers passed the bill, referred to as the “Women’s Privacy Act” by supporters, earlier this year. It requires a person in publicly owned buildings to use restrooms, locker rooms, and similar facilities associated with the gender on their birth certificate. Enforcement of the controversial new law begins this Thursday.

The governor signed Texas’ Senate Bill 8 into law on Monday. The so-called “bathroom bill” prohibits people in many publicly owned spaces from using restrooms that don't align with the sex listed on their birth certificate. LGBTQ+ groups and advocates are calling the measure another attack on transgender Texans.

Texans have become more supportive of transgender rights in recent years, a new public opinion survey suggests. The Public Religion Research Institute…

Since 2007, Houston Democratic state Rep. Garnet Coleman – and others – have tried in vain to get just five words into Texas' hate crimes law: "or gender…

A Houston-based religious nonprofit behind the so-called bathroom bill is suing the City of Austin over its anti-discrimination hiring ordinance. The U.S.…

Gov. Greg Abbott himself was opposed to the controversial “bathroom bill” that dominated debate at the Texas Capitol for much of 2017, according to a…

More than 40 Texans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender are running for public office this year. Advocates say this is an…

As the year comes to a close, we're looking back at the stories that defined 2017.In the Texas Legislature, there were fights: over the so-called bathroom…

Cecilia Melchor had a friend visiting from out of town last Wednesday. The 22-year-old UT-Austin student didn’t necessarily want to go out, but her friend…