Open Letter in support of Non Discrimination Ordinances

Dear Texas Legislators:

 

Two-thirds of Texans believe that no one should have to worry about being fired from a job, evicted from an apartment, or denied services just because of who you are or who you love. The latest polling shows that 66% of Texans, with majorities of every age, gender, ethnic group, political affiliation, and religion, support nondiscrimination laws for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. But there are currently no explicit and enduring protections on either the state or federal level for this vulnerable population.

 

In the absence of state and federal nondiscrimination protections, our cities--Fort Worth, Plano and Dallas--have taken steps to protect LGBTQ people and others from discrimination at work, in access to housing, and in public spaces. As leaders from cities that value our local nondiscrimination ordinances (NDOs), we are concerned about bills in the Texas legislature that would put these important protections our residents and our economies have come to rely on at risk.

 

These NDOs are tailored to our community values and the needs of our local populations, including not only our LGBTQ community, but also people of faith, people of color, veterans, and students. NDOs are an important part of what keeps our cities vibrant, strong, and healthy. They assure our residents and visitors that there is a local, legal remedy, close to home, when they face discrimination and that they are welcome to live, work, and contribute to the cities we call home.

 

NDOs are an important competitive tool in the war for talent, corporate investment, innovation, and tourism (Texas' #2 industry).  In 2015, for example, Facebook executives confirmed Fort Worth's LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance--the oldest in the state--before deciding on its $1B investment in the city. Municipal NDOs are an important tool for winning convention and sporting event business. Convention & visitors bureau execs say they would lose significant opportunities to bid for business if they were to lose their NDOs. And a 2016 study found that nondiscrimination laws make states more innovative, with quantifiable increases in inventors moving to a state and patents filed.

 

SBs 2485, 2486, and 2487 (Creighton) create unnecessary threats to local nondiscrimination ordinances by prohibiting our cities from regulating how an employer distributes benefits, healthcare, paid leave, and scheduling - all places where discrimination can occur against LGBTQ people unless protections are in place. Without language in place to clarify that these bills are not intended to impact NDOs, these bills would open the door to the type of litigation that activist groups such as Texas Values have already begun in filing suit to challenge Austin's NDO.

 

If such activists are successful, the more than 5.6 million Texans who are currently covered would be stripped of protections we have come to count on.

 

We call on legislators to include clear language in the bill to protect nondiscrimination ordinances OR oppose SBs 2485, 2486 and 2487 and any other bills that would erode our ability to protect our residents from discrimination.

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1. Add your name to the Open Letter here
2. Confirm your city of residence and affiliation

I confirm that I am a resident of Dallas, Fort Worth, or Plano, Texas. I consent to having my name listed as co-signer of this letter, along with my city of residence and any business or organizational affiliation I provide. I understand that the letter will be shared with journalists and legislators.