Let’s put our daughters before our dollars

That’s the message from Linda Dewhurst regarding privacy protection, aka ‘the bathroom bill’:

From the InBox:

Texas Women Leading the Charge to Protect Privacy

AUSTIN – Texas women are taking the lead when it comes to protecting privacy and dignity in our showers, restrooms, and locker rooms.

As just one recent example of this groundswell of support, Linda Dewhurst of Houston recorded a video in support of the Texas Privacy Act that has surpassed 330,000 views in less than a week.

WATCH: Linda Dewhurst on why the Legislature must pass the Texas Privacy Act this special session: https://www.facebook.com/texasvalues/videos/1403056806398120

“As a longtime resident of Houston, I know first-hand why it’s important that we pass this statewide bill,” Dewhurst said. “In fact, if the Texas House allows men into girls’ bathrooms, it is very likely the Houston city council will try again to pass a bathroom ordinance like the one we defeated in 2015 that would have forced even private businesses to allow men into girls’ bathrooms.”

In addition to Nicole Hudgens, Texas Values Policy Analyst and up-and-coming Millennial leader, we recommend the following, notable women who support privacy legislation for consideration in media coverage on the Texas Privacy Act.

Cindy Asmussen – Ethics & Religious Liberty Advisor with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and Legislative Director with Concerned Women for America of Texas.

Trayce Bradford – President of Texas Eagle Forum and mother of seven.

Sunny Cardenas – a Dripping Springs ISD mother and community member speaking up for the voiceless and forgotten.

JoAnn Fleming – Executive Director of Grassroots America/We The People, an influential network of statewide activists.

Kaeley Triller Haver – President of Hands Across the Aisle, outspoken privacy activist and writer, sexual abuse survivor.

Dana Hodges – Director of Concerned Women for America of Texas, victim of privacy violation in a public restroom via a video camera disguised as a clothing hook.

Nikki Kelton – Dripping Springs ISD parent demanding transparency for the school district’s un-vetted policy allowing boys in girls’ restrooms and locker rooms.

Allison Kelly – Fort Worth ISD mother, one of the parents speaking out against the Fort Worth Superintendent’s policy allowing boys into girls’ restrooms and locker rooms.

Sen. Lois Kolkhorst – Author of the Senate Texas Privacy Act, former NCAA athlete concerned about the door being opened to biological men competing in women’s sports.

Pastor Ericka McCrutcheon – Co-Pastor of Joint Heirs Fellowship Church in Houston, successfully fought against Houston’s “bathroom ordinance” that was defeated by voters 61-39 percent.

Susan Rodriguez – Law enforcement officer of more than three decades, community activist who points out the safety hazards of local policy that allows men into intimate facilities with women.

Shiloh – 10-year-old Dripping Springs ISD student who, along with her father Rob, has been speaking out in favor of legislation designed to keep boys out of her schools restrooms and changing areas.

Angela Smith – Horseback riding trainer and mentor to young girls concerned about the ramifications of local laws that compromise safe spaces.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Our Protect Privacy page contains helpful resources including radio ads featuring some of the aforementioned women, an archive of our press releases on the privacy issue, video testimony, and fact sheets on the Texas Privacy Act: http://www.txvalues.org/ProtectPrivacy

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You know, this is not the ‘complex’ issue that business leaders are being coerced into saying it is. It is really quite simple. As I noted here, the act proposed by Rep. Simmons (and supported by 80 House members) is not discriminatory in any way, shape or form. In fact, it PROTECTS businesses from government interference in their operations. As well, it protects all Texans by not allowing political subdivisions, be they county, city or any other entity, from discriminating against anyone.

Has anyone thought about this scenario? If the Texas Legislature does nothing, political subdivisions can make laws prohibiting certain people from going certain places, just as easily as political subdivisions now make laws forcing people to allow certain people into certain places. Both are wrong and bad policy.

Speaker Straus should allow the Texas House to vote. Let the measure be defeated or let it be passed but let the voters of Texas know where their elected Representatives stand. If Speaker Straus is correct in his assessment that privately the vast majority of members have told him they do not want this law passed, why shouldn’t the voters know? In fact, if he allows the vote and it fails, the Republicans will be in a stronger position. Why does everyone think they will be in a weaker position if they vote their conscience or their districts?

If I were a LGBTQABC activist, I would be demanding a vote so that I would know who to target.