Texas

Fatma Marouf and Bryn Esplin were denied the opportunity even to apply to serve as foster parents for refugee children by a USCCB affiliate because, they were told, they did not “mirror the Holy Family.”

In a stunning move Tuesday night, the Texas House and Senate ended the month-long special session a full day early. That wise conclusion lifted a cloud of fear from thousands of Texas families because it ended the imminent threat of “bathroom bills” that were pending in both chambers of the Texas legislature.

The Texas Senate voted 21-10 on Tuesday to approve SB 3 – a so-called "bathroom bill" – which aims to prohibit transgender Texans from using restroom and changing facilities consistent with their gender identity, and to exclude transgender girls from playing sports with teammates who have the same gender identity. It is yet one more example of extremely harmful, lie-fueled legislation designed to drive transgender people from public life.

HB 3859 prohibits the state from punishing foster care and adoption agencies if they discriminate against queer young people or prospective parents who are LGBTQ or of differing faiths, even if the agency receives government funding.