ATTACK FROM THE RIGHT New conservative bills before the Legislature threaten our community, as Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby exec Randall Ellis reports. This month, a march on Austin will confront this crisis

A Texas-size battle is brewing in the state Legislature this session, and the GLBT community is the focus of the attack.

In the name of traditional families across the great Lone Star State, ultra-right-wing legislators have already filed three antigay bills. All three bills seek to marginalize GLBT families and reinforce the fact that gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people are second-class citizens. With a shift in the balance of power after the November elections, the religious right wasted no timing in declaring a holy war on the Texas GLBT community. With that in mind, they established top priorities for the 78th session of the Texas Legislature as passage of an antigay/lesbian marriage bill along with bills that would limit the ability of gays and lesbians to adopt or serve as foster parents.

The three antigay bills:

• House Bill 38, sponsored by Rep. Warren Chisum (R-Pamapa), otherwise known as the Texas Defense of Marriage Act, seeks to codify marriage as a legal relationship between one man and one woman. The religious right fears a possible assault by gays and lesbians, who may obtain recognition of their relationships in another state. These zealots are terrified that gays and lesbians will force Texas to recognize the unions they have obtained outside of Texas.

• House Bill 194, sponsored by Rep. Robert Talton (R-Houston), would disqualify gays, lesbians, and bisexuals from serving as foster parents. This bill would also authorize child protective service agencies to conduct investigations into homes where foster children are currently placed with suspected homosexuals.

• House Bill 916, sponsored by Rep. Sid Miller (R-Stephenville), seeks to limit the rights of gay and lesbian adoptive parents. This bill attempts to ban gay and lesbian families from obtaining a second-parent adoption, in effect keeping both parents from being recognized as legal parents of the adoptive child.

The essence of HB 38, HB 194, and HB 916 is hate: the hate of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders. These bills reinforce the fact that because of hate, certain sections of the population-in this case, gays and lesbians-are treated differently from others with regard to basic civil equality. Like the demeaning laws that once barred matrimony between a black person and a white person, HB 38, HB 194, and HB 916 target certain individuals as less than fully equal before the law, as less than fully human.

The religious right loves to demonize gays and lesbians. They prefer that the American public only see negative images of gays and lesbians, images that portray us as sexual predators. They want the majority of Americans to remain ignorant of the fact that most gays and lesbians are just as they see themselves: loving caring people. They are purposefully deceitful, using fear for their political purposes and financial gain.

Legislation is not justified simply because the thought of two women married or two men raising a child together makes some Texans uncomfortable. It is frightening and dangerous when the moral and religious beliefs of one group are imposed upon another. While we must respect the beliefs of other people, we must never allow state-sanctioned morality to be the law of the land.

The time to act is now. We must contact our legislators, who are at work for us in Austin, to let them know how we feel about these issues. We must respond to this hate by engaging in the political process. Make no mistake. These legislators work for us, but it is our responsibility to let them know where we stand on issues of importance to us.

The path to equality in Texas is rocky and full of obstacles. The GLBT community has fought many battles and made enormous strides. In the '70s, we stood up to a state law banning gays and lesbians from organizing at public universities. In the '80s, our community fought off attempts to quarantine people living with HIV/AIDS. Just last session, we saw the passage of the James Byrd Hate Crimes Act, marking the first time gays and lesbians were recognized and protected under Texas law.

Slowly, we have enlightened lawmakers. A day will come when gay citizens in Texas will be free to marry the person of their choice, to form families as they choose to, and to live free of discrimination. When that day arrives, these lawmakers will have a choice. They can ask the GLBT community and all citizens of Texas for forgiveness, much as Trent Lott did when his racism became blatantly clear, or they can take their place in history as tyrannical hatemongers whose legacies will serve as a constant reminder that hate and fear left unchecked are dangers to freedom-not just the freedom of the GLBT community, but the freedom of all to live the lives they choose.

Randall Ellis is executive director of the Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of Texas (www.lgrl.org).

MARCH ON AUSTIN

The GLBT community of Texas will no longer stand for discrimination of any kind. On March 16, we have the opportunity to stand united and fight back when the Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of Texas sponsors the "Rally for our Youth/ Rally for Our Families." This is a chance for thousands of us to come together as one in Austin, raising our voices in unison and sending a strong, clear message to lawmakers.

The rally will be the largest gay rights event in Texas. The event will begin at 12:30 p.m. on March 16 on the south steps of the capitol grounds. A 3:30-6 p.m. film screening will follow the rally at the downtown Alamo Drafthouse. Participants are then invited to a 7:30-10 p.m. social mixer at the 1920's Club.

The following day, LGRL will hold a lobby day. Beginning at 8 a.m. in the Capitol Grille inside the state capitol, LGRL will conduct a short training to familiarize participants with the issues of concern as well as lobbying and the legislative process in general. After the training, participants are encouraged to visit and speak with legislators and their staffs. -Randall Ellis

MORE GROUPS LOBBY

The Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby march and lobby day on March 16-17 won't be the only action this month in Austin.

• Texas Gender Advocacy & Information Network will lobby lawmakers on March 3. More info: TGAINDir@aol.com.

• ACT NOW! Texas will meet with legislators on March 26 about the state of the threatened AIDS Drug Assistance Program. More info: ACTNowHouston@aol.com.

TALK BACK

This session, the Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of Texas launched the District Lobbying Project to encourage gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, and allies to communicate more frequently with elected representatives. Nothing is more effective at debunking the biases and stereotypes invoked by our opponents than actually showing legislators and the public who gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Texans are. To obtain a District Lobbying Project kit, contact the LGRL at 512/474-5475 or by e-mail at info@lgrl.org. -RL

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