On March 2, 2009, over 400 Texans who support the elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression are converging on the State Capitol in Austin for face-to-face conversations with legislators and their staff about issues of equality and the effect of public policy on their daily lives.

Even though you are not with us today in person, you can help make equality happen by participating in Equality Texas Virtual Lobby Day.

Send an e-mail to your State Senator and State Representative in support of Equality Texas' Legislative Agenda.

Safe Schools:

• Texas should provide a safe learning environment free from bullying and harassment for all students.
• Currently, there are no provisions for the State of Texas to monitor the development, implementation, and enforcement of student codes of conduct that prohibit bullying and harassment.
• We support efforts to measure compliance and effectiveness of current codes of conduct in preventing and eliminating bullying and harassment.

Hate Crimes Act Enforcement:

• Since passage of the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act in 2001, over 1,800 crimes of bias and prejudice have been reported. However, there have been only nine (9) prosecutions and eight (8) convictions under the Act.
• It is time to look at the Act and identify successful stategies, barriers to prosecution, and whether the Act can be enhanced to live up to its intent.

Hospital Visitation & Medical Decision Making:

• While a majority of Texans do not currently support marriage equality for same-sex couples, they do understand that committed, loving couples deserve to be treated with fairness and dignity.
• Every adult has the right to contractually designate a medical power of attorney. People who have taken the necessary legal steps to ensure their health-related decisions are carried out should not have to worry that an estranged family member, unrelated neighbor, or other individual will thwart their own wishes or usurp their designee's decision-making authority.
• Medical decisions should be made by the patient and their loved ones, not bureaucrats or a stranger.

Non-Discrimination:

• Discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression is wrong. 
• Our state was founded on ideals of individuality and hard work.  No Texan should live in fear of losing their livelihood because of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
• Putting an end to discrimination in a state that values hard work and individual effort is simply the right thing to do.

Competitive Insurance Benefits:

• To be flagship universities, state statutes require the UT and TAMU systems to be competitive at the highest levels.  Statutes demand UT and TAMU offer benefits competitive to their peer institutions, but neither system currently does so.
• The best universities in this country already offer insurance benefits for the unmarried partners, cohabitating parents/adult children of faculty and staff.
• Texas' flagship universities must provide these benefits in order to be able to attract top talent.
• 23 of the top 25 national universities offer competitive insurance benefits to a qualified employee and the employee's designee.
• In Texas, Baylor College of Medicine, Rice University, Southwestern University, Southern Methodist University, and Trinity University already provide such benefits.