Gilbert: “This Is What Is Right For Texas”

Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Releases Historic LGBT Policy Statement, Calls For Civil Unions With Same Rights As Opposite Sex Couples

HOUSTON—Democratic gubernatorial candidate Hank Gilbert made history Tuesday night with the release of a sweeping progressive policy statement on issues of importance to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Texans—including a call for civil unions in Texas designed to give LGBT couples the same rights and privileges as opposite-sex couples.

Gilbert made his clarion call for reform during a meeting of the Houston Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Political Caucus, the oldest LGBT civil rights organization in the American south.

“Knowing that discrimination exists in Texas and doing nothing about it goes against everything I stand for. Those who remain silent on this issue are passive participants in that discrimination,” Gilbert said.

Noting that the office of governor was a position from which the state could be led toward progressive public policy innovations, Gilbert said staying quiet LGBT rights issues he strongly believed in was not an option for him.

“Just because some people see this as controversial or say that Texas isn’t ready for this is not a reason I can use to justify remaining silent on this issue,” he said. “This is what is right for Texas,” he noted.

“The issue of equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals is the new civil rights battle for the 21st century,” Gilbert said.

In addition to proposing civil unions with the same rights for LGBT couples as for opposite sex couples, Gilbert also:

Proposed sweeping legislation prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

• Proposed ending discriminatory insurance practices negatively impacting Texas’ LGBT citizens.
• Proposed legislation allowing Texas’ public universities and governmental institutions to offer same-sex domestic partner benefits.
• Sweeping reforms prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in housing, public accommodations, and real estate transactions.
• Laws establishing the authority of domestic partners in medical decision making.
• A tough anti-bullying statute.
• Extending the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act to include gender identity or expression.
• Legislation making it less costly and cumbersome for transgender individuals to change the gender marker on birth certificates and state IDs.
• Allowing gay youths the same defenses as straight youths under Texas’ “Romeo and Juliet” statutes.

“Most of these changes in policy aren’t things that are brand new concepts to Texas,” Gilbert acknowledged. “Many of them have been proposed before by progressive leaders in the Legislature like State Representative Garnet Coleman here in Houston. Representative Coleman and his progressive colleagues have carried the torch on these issues, and Democrats should be proud of their steadfast leadership. What we need now is a Democratic governor in the governor’s office who supports LGBT rights and is willing to bring the full weight of his office to bear on these issues so they can finally be passed,” Gilbert said.

“A Democratic legislature is not enough to ensure LGBT rights in Texas,” he continued. “Until we have a Democrat in the governor’s office who is willing to show leadership on this issue, the changes LGBT Texans are fighting for will not happen,” he concluded.

FACT SHEET

LGBT Civil Rights In Texas: The Time Is Now

Most Texans Support Either Civil Unions Or Same Sex Marriage. According to the 2009 Texas Lyceum Poll, 32 percent of Texans support civil unions and another 25 percent of Texans believe same-sex marriage should be permitted. Overall, 57 percent of Texans favor either civil unions or same-sex marriage in Texas. [SOURCE: 2009 Texas Lyceum Poll]

Violent Crime Targeting Transgender Individuals Common In Texas. From 1970 to 2004, Texas ranked third in the nation for the murder of transgender individuals. [SOURCE: Equality Texas]

To view the PDF copy of the plan,  you will need Acrobat Reader.  Download it from Adobe’s website.