by Bobby Watson | Sep 22, 2023 | Blog, Human Rights, Latest Posts, Law Enforcement, Religious Freedom
As gun violence and mass shootings continue to dominate the American news cycle, other sources of gun violence like suicides are neglected in national conversations. Suicides continue to make up the majority of gun related deaths in the US, yet despite this most of...
by Bee Moorhead | Sep 14, 2023 | Education, Latest Posts, Religious Freedom
Senate Bill 763 gives public school districts the option to replace school counselors with religious chaplains. SB 763 doesn’t require school boards hire chaplains, but it requires them to take a record vote. Now, every Texas school board must vote on whether...
by Bee Moorhead | Aug 22, 2023 | Education, Faith Leader Statements, Human Rights, Latest Posts, Legislative, Religious Freedom
MEDIA CONTACTSManisha Sunil, West End Strategy Team / msunil@westendstrategy.com; 202-417-0171Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, BJC / guthrie@bjconline.org; 713-614-4946Joshua Houston, Texas Impact / josh@texasimpact.org; 979-487-1188 AUSTIN—More than 100 Texas chaplains...
by Joshua Houston | Jul 28, 2023 | Economic Justice, Education, Human Rights, Latest Posts, Legislative, Religious Freedom
What is a public school chaplain? Texas school children may soon find out. In 2023, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 763, which gives public school districts the option to hire religiously affiliated chaplains. However, the bill provides no definition, job...
by Scott Atnip | Jun 29, 2023 | Human Rights, Religious Freedom, Weekly Witness
This week we welcome Texas State Representative James Talarico, who represents District 50 in the Austin, Travis County, area, to discuss Christian nationalism and the role it played in the 88th Legislature. Rep. Talarico had several “viral moments” during the session...
by Bee Moorhead | May 13, 2023 | Human Rights, Latest Posts, Legislative, Race & Gender, Religious Freedom, Resources
Transcript of the House Floor Debate of SB14 May 12, 2023 On May 12, 2023, the Texas House debated SB14 by Sen. Bryan Hughes, sponsored by Rep. Tom Oliverson, which would ban all gender-affirming care for individuals under the age of 18. The debate lasted several...