Thanks to intense pressure from businesses and activists like you, the Governors of both Arkansas and Indiana both backed away from legal discrimination and changed their positions on anti-LGBT hate bills.
We can't give up now. It's time to bring that momentum to the Lone Star State!
Two new bills - SJR 10 and HJR 125, proposed by Sen. Campbell and Rep. Krause - claim to defend religious freedom, but in reality just open the door to legalized discrimination, using vague language to allow businesses to turn away gay customers.
Doctors could refuse to treat gay men. Police could ignore cases of domestic violence against women based on their personal interpretation of biblical verses. And faith-based neo-nazis could even deny black Texans a place at the lunch counter.
I'm proud to be from Austin and Conroe, and I know our state can and will do better than this. Like Willie himself says, "It's about human rights... People are people where I came from."
Tell the Texas state legislature: Don't abandon the state motto, "Friendship"! Reject hate, and vote no on the legalized discrimination bills!
Please stop the effort to pass SJR 10 and HJR 125. These so-called "religious freedom" bills proposed by Sen. Campbell and Rep. Krause are unnecessary, discriminatory and dangerous - and they fly in the face of the Texas state motto, "Friendship."
Using religious belief as an excuse, a public school guidance counselor could refuse to help an LGBT student. A pharmacist could refuse to fill a prescription for birth control. A landlord could refuse to rent to or even evict an unmarried mother. A man who abuses his wife or child could claim religion to justify breaking domestic violence and child abuse laws.
Stand up for the rights of all Texans and reject this legislation. It could allow people to twist religion into an excuse to discriminate against anyone they don't like or don't agree with, and to opt out of child welfare and other critical laws.
I'm asking you to protect Texans from legislation that would do nothing but fuel hate and cause harm in the state.
[Petition language borrowed from our friends at Progress Texas]
