LGBT rights in Texas
| LGBT rights in Texas | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Gender identity/expression | No statewide anti-discrimination laws; sex-change recognized for purposes of marriage licenses |
| Discrimination protections | No statewide anti-discrimination laws, city protections never enforced |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships |
Legal since June 26, 2015 |
| Adoption | Yes |
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Texas face legal challenges and discrimination not faced by other people. The state denied gays and lesbians the right to marry a same-sex partner both by statute and in its constitution. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled bans on same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional in Obergefell v. Hodges, yet the ruling remains challenged in Texas. Texas has a hate crimes statute that strengthens penalties for certain crimes motivated by a victim's sexual orientation, although it has never been invoked. Gender identity is not included in the hate crimes law. There is no statewide law banning anti-LGBT discrimination, however, some localities in Texas have ordinances that in theory provide a variety of legal protections and benefits to LGBT people but aren't enforced.
Texas state law does not protect employees from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Since at least 1999, no bill prohibiting discrimination by employers based on sexual orientation or gender identity has made it out of the committee stage in the Texas legislature. During the legislature's 2013 regular session, House Bill 238 by Representative Mike Villarreal, House Bill 1146 by Representative Eric Johnson, and Senate Bill 237 by Senator Leticia Van de Putte would have prohibited this discrimination; however, all these bills died in their respective committees.
Texas state law does not protect persons from housing or public accommodations discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. House Bill 2215 by Representative Jessica Farrar in the legislature's 2009 regular session would have prohibited this discrimination; however, the bill died in the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence committee of the house of representatives.
Texas state law does not protect persons from insurance discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. During the legislature's 2013 regular session, House Bill 206 by Representative Senfronia Thompson, House Bill 541 by Representative Robert Alonzo, and Senate Bill 73 by Senator Rodney Ellis would have prohibited this discrimination; however, all these bills died in their respective committees.
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