At a rally at the Capitol opposing anti-trans bills, Equality Texas Executive Director Ricardo Martinez told a crowd of trans Texans, medical professionals, faith leaders, and allies that it’s everyone’s responsibility to speak up loudly against baseless hate. “Silence,” he said, “has not kept us safe.”
The energy at the Capitol ticked up substantially this week, with committee action on bills Texas Impact supports—and bills we oppose. Texas Impact staff are in the Capitol daily as the conversations unfold. Most Texans don’t have the time or energy to stay engaged constantly, but it’s important that constituents and voters understand what’s being said and by whom. That’s why Texas Impact presents LegeTV: a YouTube playlist of clips from legislative hearings and floor action that provides an accessible window into the legislative process.
This week, we’ve got clips from the House Select Committee on Healthcare Reform, where members heard testimony on Rep. Toni Rose’s HB12 that would provide 12 months of postpartum coverage under Medicaid. Check out Texans Care for Childrens’ Diana Forester and the Religious Action Center’s Emily Bourgeois.
At the other end of the dial, we’ve got clips of Bishop Sue Briner and Bishop Suffragan Kai Ryan opposing SB14, which would prohibit gender-affirming care. We also have a clip of an exchange between Sen. Menendez and Houston doctor Steve Hotze that comes with a TV-MA-L warning.
We started LegeTV more than 15 years ago, to help our members keep up with legislative activity. At a time when more and more information was available electronically, many Texans felt overwhelmed by the volume of legislative information available—the glut of data ironically made them less able to engage than ever. We also were concerned that it was becoming easier to “doctor” online video—literally to put words in peoples’ mouths. We committed from the beginning to providing clear, complete clips that showed context without overwhelming the viewer.
We’re often surprised at what clips get the most attention. For example, Representative Jim Dunnam’s 2009 demonstration of the proper way to fold the Texas flag has had more than 15,000 views!
But for lifetime views, the top clip on LegeTV—by a long shot—is this clip of Rep. Senfronia Thompson’s blistering 2011 speech on the House floor condemning some of her colleagues’ disrespect for women. It’s a great reminder that vulgarity has no place in the legislative process.
You can find all LegeTV clips on Texas Impact’s YouTube channel. We’d love to hear from you about how you use the clips to strengthen your advocacy and resource your community!