NEW YORK – GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, today praised the Texas House of Representatives for ending Governor Greg Abbott’s “special discrimination session” and halting any attempt to pass anti-transgender legislation at the Texas Capitol. After massive backlash by Texans and business leaders, including numerous Fortune 500 companies, Gov. Abbott’s hope to sign a so-called “bathroom bill” in this special session was defeated. Possible anti-trans legislation such as Senate Bill 3 would have barred transgender and gender non-conforming Texans from access to restrooms and students from participating in athletics in accordance with their gender identity.

“Even in these dark times, LGBTQ organizers, business leaders, fair-minded politicians, and allies in Texas and across the country rose up against Gov. Abbott’s outright attempt to place his anti-trans agenda ahead of the well-being of the state and its people,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. “This bill was a solution in search of a problem and would have put trans Texans at risk for discrimination and violence. Today’s victory shows what can happen when transgender Americans and their allies stay vigilant and push back against legislation that helps no one and harms many.”

Gov. Abbott’s so-called “bathroom bill” was opposed by the majority of Texans and big businesses across the country and could have drained about $3 billion from the state’s economy while putting transgender and gender non-conforming Texans in jeopardy.

Since the start of this year, GLAAD has been on the ground fighting the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation in Texas. GLAAD coordinated with Equality Texas and Texas Freedom Network this spring to hold numerous “Students Against Hate” rallies on college campuses across the state where Texans came together to share their voice and fight back against the anti-LGBTQ bills being perused at the Texas Capitol. Further, GLAAD has held accountable the many anti-LGBTQ groups and activists who have lobbied for this hateful legislation by sending background information to the media on the anti-LGBTQ history of each organization.

GLAAD also teamed up with Equality Texas, The Ally Coalition, and more than 160 leading artists, entertainers, and influencers to release an open letter opposing anti-LGBTQ bills, including the so-called “bathroom bill,” that threatened to harm LGBTQ Texas.

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All of us at GLAAD are disgusted and heartbroken by the deadly violence led by white nationalist groups in Charlottesville, Virginia.

As we mourn the victims of this unimaginable act of terror, we are sending messages of love and support to the people of Charlottesville to tell them that we are with them, and we will never stop fighting for all people to be loved and accepted exactly as we are.

Will you add your message of support for the people of Charlottesville? We’ll send your message to the University of Virginia LGBTQ Center, the Charlottesville Pride Community Network, and the Charlottesville chapter of the NAACP.

In the wake of these horrible acts of hatred, let’s show the people of Charlottesville — and those who seek to divide us — that we will never stop fighting for each other. Send your message of support to the people of Charlottesville right now, and let’s keep proving that love will always win. 

Click here to send your message.