By Jennifer Bendery, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX –
Cheered on by a colorful group of gay and lesbian teenagers, several legislators today gathered on the South Steps of the Texas Capitol to announce their support for HB 376, the Dignity for All Students Act, which protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) students from discrimination in public schools.
Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston), author of the bill, said he has filed this bill in two previous sessions but it never made it to the Senate floor. The 79th Legislature, however, marks the first time the bill has a companion in the Senate: SB 201, by Sen. Mario Gallegos (D-Houston). The bill is designed to ensure that no student is so preoccupied with fear that he or she is unable to receive an education, he said. "All students deserve to go to school with dignity."
Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas), co-author of the bill, said when he was a Dallas ISD trustee, he took for granted that students would have recourse if they were harassed. Dallas ISD policies prohibit teachers and administrators from discriminating against LGBT students, he said. But he was "appalled" to learn that there is no statewide protection from harassment in schools under Texas law.
Anchia said LGBT students face "pervasive discrimination" on a daily basis and in Dallas have a suicide rate two to three times higher than the general population. "This is not a gay bill," he said. "This is a kid's bill. This protects kids."
Rep. Elliott Naishtat (D-Austin) said some schools have protections for LGBT students but "most don't." Anti-discriminatory language must be clarified in statute to ensure "every conceivable protection for students," he said, and to minimize the number of times a student is attacked in school "simply because of who they are."
"It saddens me greatly" that in 2005 people are still debating the need to "treat all children fair and equal," said Rep. Terri Hodge (D-Dallas). "There's no reason that should even be a question." LGBT students are "just going to school like all the other Texas children," she said. "They are asking for no special treatment."
Hodge said she is "proudly joining" in the effort to end discrimination against LGBT children since she is a "long-time victim of discrimination" as an African-American woman. The Dallas legislator then turned to the group of LGBT teens standing behind her at the podium and urged them to stand up for their rights. "Never make anybody think you are less than anybody else," she said. "This is your place. Use it."