Urgent Action, San Antonio Non-Discrimination Ordinance.
Dear Visitor,
We’ve just received word that San Antonio’s proposed non-discrimination ordinance now contains a compromise that would allow for discrimination against the transgender community in accessing public restrooms. This is unacceptable. Access to public accommodations must include the basic ability to use the restroom without harassment. We are poorly served by allies that compromise the basic dignity of trans people for political expediency. Members of city council are meeting with LGBT leaders tomorrow morning. They needs to hear from you TONIGHT. Please sign the petition demanding that the bathroom exemption be removed.
Please sign the petition at https://getequaltx.org/2013/08/tell-san-antonio-lawmakers-to-remove-the-bathroom-exemptions-from-the-non-discrimination-ordinance/ and share it with your friends via social media and email.
Thank you!
The GetEQUAL TX Team.
Tell San Antonio Lawmakers to Remove the bathroom exemptions from the Non-Discrimination Ordinance
Friends, We’ve just received word that San Antonio’s proposed non-discrimination ordinance now contains a compromise that would allow for discrimination against the transgender community in accessing public restrooms. This is unacceptable. Access to public accommodations must include the basic ability to use the restroom without harassment. We are poorly served by allies that compromise the basic dignity of trans people for political expediency. Members of city council are meeting with LGBT leaders tomorrow morning. They need to hear from you NOW! Please sign the petition demanding that the bathroom exemption be removed.
Dear San Antonio Lawmakers,
I recently discovered that exemptions were added to the proposed Non-Discrimination Ordinance that would discriminate against transgender persons in San Antonio. This compromise guts protections for the most vulnerable population protected by this ordinance, in the place they are most vulnerable. Public accommodations must include the basic ability to use the restroom without harassment. Repeatedly those who claim to be our allies have made compromises such as these that cause great harm to the transgender members of our community for political expediency. Remove the bathroom exemptions from the Non-Discrimination Ordinance NOW!!!
Tell San Antonio Lawmakers to Remove the bathroom exemptions from the Non-Discrimination Ordinance
San Antonio Planning Meeting – Demand Passage of Human Rights Ordinance!
GetEQUAL TX invites you to join the Community Alliance for a United San Antonio (CAUSA) at a strategy meeting next Tuesday, April 2, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the Esperanza Center, 922 San Pedro (upstairs space). There will be sandwiches, snacks, sodas and water available at the meeting.
As you probably know, San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the country and, yet, it is the only major city in Texas and in the nation that does not provide non-discrimination protections for LGBT people in its municipal code. CAUSA was formed in June of 2011 by a small group of activists to develop a strategy for amending San Antonio’s current non-discrimination ordinances to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in city employment, public accommodations, housing, city contractors and appointments to boards and commissions.
Shortly after CAUSA began meeting, organizers learned of a “surprise announcement” that the mayor and city manager wanted to include domestic partner benefits in the city budget. CAUSA switched gears to rally support from the community for that initiative and domestic partner benefits were successfully adopted in September, 2011.
CAUSA then refocused on its original goal, to amend the non-discrimination ordinances that exist within the city code to be inclusive of LGBT people. Organizers for CAUSA met with the mayor and City Council Member Diego Bernal, both of whom seemed supportive and dare we say excited to make this great change for the city; however, neither Mayor Castro nor Councilman Bernal, both of whom relied heavily on the LGBT community for donations and support during their elections, have pushed hard enough and the amendments were never placed on the Council agenda. Even after Mayor Castro and Councilman Bernal were presented with a scientific poll showing strong support for this ordinance among a cross-section of San Antonio voters, they continue to fail to take action or give any indication as to when this will be brought before Council.
CAUSA has now expanded its focus and is advocating for a fully-inclusive, citywide Human Rights Ordinance that includes a Human Rights Commission or similar entity to receive and adjudicate claims of arbitrary discrimination brought on the basis of race, color, age, religion, disability, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, etc. using the current policies and ordinances of Ft. Worth, Dallas and Austin as a springboard.
We cannot stop simply because “our friends” in power seem disinterested, or worse, indifferent, to discrimination. It is time to develop a plan of action to see that the City of San Antonio provides a recourse for its citizens and visitors when the heavy hand of discrimination strikes. It is time to GetEQUAL!
Jay Morris
GetEQUAL TX
PS: Parking is difficult around the Esperanza Center, so the best place to park is in the parking lot directly south of the Esperanza Building at 920 San Pedro. The meeting starts at 6 pm, but please arrive early to get a parking space and something to eat.
Please RSVP at this link: https://getequaltx.org/rsvpmaker/planning-meeting-demand-san-antonio-pass-a-human-rights-ordinance/
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GetEQUAL Texas is a state-based chapter of GetEQUAL, based in Texas and fighting for full equality for LGBT Texans. You can follow GetEQUAL Texas on Facebook at or on Twitter at .
San Antonio Planning Meeting – Demand Passage of Human Rights Ordinance!
GetEQUAL TX invites you to join the Community Alliance for a United San Antonio (CAUSA) at a strategy meeting next Tuesday, April 2, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the Esperanza Center, 922 San Pedro (upstairs space). There will be sandwiches, snacks, sodas and water available at the meeting.
As you probably know, San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the country and, yet, it is the only major city in Texas and in the nation that does not provide non-discrimination protections for LGBT people in its municipal code. CAUSA was formed in June of 2011 by a small group of activists to develop a strategy for amending San Antonio’s current non-discrimination ordinances to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in city employment, public accommodations, housing, city contractors and appointments to boards and commissions.
Shortly after CAUSA began meeting, organizers learned of a “surprise announcement” that the mayor and city manager wanted to include domestic partner benefits in the city budget. CAUSA switched gears to rally support from the community for that initiative and domestic partner benefits were successfully adopted in September, 2011.
CAUSA then refocused on its original goal, to amend the non-discrimination ordinances that exist within the city code to be inclusive of LGBT people. Organizers for CAUSA met with the mayor and City Council Member Diego Bernal, both of whom seemed supportive and dare we say excited to make this great change for the city; however, neither Mayor Castro nor Councilman Bernal, both of whom relied heavily on the LGBT community for donations and support during their elections, have pushed hard enough and the amendments were never placed on the Council agenda. Even after Mayor Castro and Councilman Bernal were presented with a scientific poll showing strong support for this ordinance among a cross-section of San Antonio voters, they continue to fail to take action or give any indication as to when this will be brought before Council.
CAUSA has now expanded its focus and is advocating for a fully-inclusive, citywide Human Rights Ordinance that includes a Human Rights Commission or similar entity to receive and adjudicate claims of arbitrary discrimination brought on the basis of race, color, age, religion, disability, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, etc. using the current policies and ordinances of Ft. Worth, Dallas and Austin as a springboard.
We cannot stop simply because “our friends” in power seem disinterested, or worse, indifferent, to discrimination. It is time to develop a plan of action to see that the City of San Antonio provides a recourse for its citizens and visitors when the heavy hand of discrimination strikes. It is time to GetEQUAL!
Jay Morris
GetEQUAL TX
PS: Parking is difficult around the Esperanza Center, so the best place to park is in the parking lot directly south of the Esperanza Building at 920 San Pedro. The meeting starts at 6 pm, but please arrive early to get a parking space and something to eat.
Please RSVP at this link: https://getequaltx.org/rsvpmaker/planning-meeting-demand-san-antonio-pass-a-human-rights-ordinance/
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GetEQUAL Texas is a state-based chapter of GetEQUAL, based in Texas and fighting for full equality for LGBT Texans. You can follow GetEQUAL Texas on Facebook at or on Twitter at .
“Light The Way To Justice” San Antonio UNITED for EQUALITY
Tell your friends about the Light the way to justice events happening around the U.S and get involve in the peace making with the community on why equality is important!
“Hope is never silent” -Harvey Milk
Lets make this last week of March memorable and know that we all including all races, sexes, genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, veteran statuses, religions to name a few that we are all in this fight together and we will keep on fighting until we WIN EQUALITY!”
