THE ALLIES

Despite the hard-right turn in the Legislature, the community still has friends in high places

by Randall Ellis

The current session of the Legislature has posed many obstacles for the Texas GLBT community. A record number of antigay bills has been introduced, and the religious right and big business seem to be calling the shots behind the scenes. Moreover, many of the community’s traditional allies have departed, including Debra Danburg, Glen Maxey, and Harryette Erhardt.

But every dark cloud has a silver lining.

This session, a new generation of allies has emerged in the Legislature. Although most of them have been there working on issues of importance to the GLBT community for some time, the conquest of state government by the radical right has brought new friends and allies to the forefront.

GARNET COLEMAN

Representative Garnet Coleman has been a legislator since 1991, representing downtown Houston as well as Third Ward. When political boundaries were redrawn in 2001, Coleman’s new district included the eastern half of Montrose, but it wasn’t merely the redrawing of maps that compelled Coleman to stand up for what is right. From the very beginning of his stint as a legislator, Coleman has stood up for issues of importance to the GLBT community. Coleman has led efforts to promote early treatment of HIV and AIDS by increasing funding for combination drug therapy and expanding the Medicaid program. He has authored numerous bills that would protect GLBT Texans in the workplace and in schools. He has done all this without the fanfare that most expect from politicians of his stature. He has done it because it is the right thing to do.

This session, Coleman has filed legislation to protect GLBT students in public schools and has also taken the lead on HIV/AIDS issues. Coleman has a strong vision of equality for the future of Texas. Because of his expert and thoughtful leadership, we can all rest a little easier, knowing that we have an ally in the House of Representatives.

JESSICA FARRAR

The redistricting process also brought many new GLBT voters into the constituency of Representative Jessica Farrar. With the new maps, District 148 picked up the Heights and Woodland Heights, both with large numbers of GLBT residents. Although Farrar has always supported GLBT issues, she had formerly been able to rely on Debra Danburg to lead the House in this area.

Farrar has jumped up to the plate and taken a lead role for equal rights at the Texas Legislature. She filed the first pro-active GLBT bill this session, a bill that would help eliminate discrimination in employment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Texans. She also signed on to a Coleman-authored bill that would protect GLBT students in public schools from harassment.

Farrar is an articulate, strong-willed legislator who has a clear idea of the direction in which Texas needs to move. The GLBT community can rest a little easier knowing that Representative Farrar is in Austin, fighting for equality.

MIKE VILLARREAL

Representative Mike Villarreal from San Antonio has made a name for himself in the Legislature as a true champion of the people, standing up for disenfranchised and often overlooked segments of our population. Villarreal feels that discrimination only serves to divide our state and detract from the true value of diversity.

Villarreal serves on the House Committee on State Affairs, a committee that sees a number of bills relating to equal rights. During committee testimony on the Defense of Marriage Act, a bill that would allow Texas to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions from other states, Villarreal seemed to be the lone voice of reason. He put the conservative forces on the spot by offering up an alternative bill. HB 3463 would allow Texas to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages or civil unions from other states but would also make it illegal to fire a worker because of sexual orientation or gender identity. Conservative forces were deeply opposed to the bill, but HB 3463 allowed Villarreal to make a point. DOMA was not about doing what was best for the state; it was about dividing the state and telling one group of people that they are inferior.

Villarreal has his work cut out for him. The GLBT community has a rising star on its side in Villarreal and should look for great things in the future of this ally from the Alamo City.

EDDIE RODRIGUEZ

Representative Eddie Rodriguez is no stranger to GLBT issues. Rodriguez is the former chief of staff for Glen Maxey, the only openly gay person to serve in the Legislature. Capital insiders feel this young Austinite is a rising star—one who knows the process and the issues, and is not afraid to speak his mind.

Rodriguez, like his former boss, is not afraid to stand up to the big dogs in the Legislature. During the opening week of the current session, he challenged an attempt by the speaker of the House to limit the power and input of House Democrats. Although he did not have the votes to stop Speaker Craddick, Rodriguez was able to serve notice to his colleagues in the House that he is one freshman legislator not to be underestimated.

Rodriguez has filed several bills that are important to the GLBT community. HB 810 would prohibit discrimination in employment by state agencies on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. He has also filed a harm reduction bill that would help reduce the transmission of hepatitis and HIV.

Rodriguez has a clear vision of what is fair, and he is not afraid to speak his mind. He brings a breath of fresh air to the sometimes-stifling atmosphere of the Legislature, and he will accomplish great things for his constituents and the entire state of Texas.

This is just a short list of our friends at work for us in Austin. Senators Rodney Ellis, Mario Gallegos, and John Whitmire have also been consistently excellent allies of the GLBT community and will continue to stand up for what is right in the Texas Senate. Representatives Senfronia Thompson, Joe Moreno, Terri Hodge, and Lon Burnam are all strong, fair-minded legislators who stand tough on issues of importance to GLBT Texans.

In the coming years, the GLBT community must return the support we currently enjoy from these lawmakers. They will be clear targets of the far right, simply because of their support of GLBT issues. Right-wing resources will be focused on these races, both in the primaries and general elections, in an attempt to oust our allies from office. The GLBT community must step up to the plate and vote fair-minded individuals into office. The road to equality will be full of many detours and obstacles, but we must not lose faith. With the help of our allies working for us in Austin, the GLBT community will play an important role in shaping the future of the great state of Texas.

Randall Ellis, executive director of the Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby, wrote “Attack from the Right” in the March issue. LGRL has launched a renovated website at www.lgrl.org.

UPDATE

At press time, this is the status of a two bills of major community interest:

DOMA. On April 30, the Texas House approved the so-called Defense of Marriage Act on a 118–9 vote. With Governor Rick Perry’s signature, the bill will become law, forbidding the state from recognizing same-gender civil unions performed in other states.

Adoption. The bill, sponsored by Robert Talton (R-Pasadena), that would have prevented gay men or lesbians from serving as foster or adoptive parents remained pending with the Senate Affairs Committee after a contentious April 22 public hearing.

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