Good morning,

For a group of people who seemingly thrive on exposing themselves, it is sickly ironic that a drag show venue in Fort Worth ejected a journalist from the audience to avoid exposure.

Here is the Texas Minute for Thursday, March 30, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

UPDATES On Recent Stories...

1. Texas Scorecard first reported last week that Carroll Independent School District’s board of trustees was going to consider ending their membership in the left-wing Texas Association of School Boards. Well, they did so. While Carroll ISD is the first to leave, Texas Scorecard’s reporters are hearing it won’t be the last.
        

2. Legislation was brought before the Texas House yesterday that critics say is part of an effort to abolish the death penalty. The measure was authored by Democrat State Rep. Toni Rose of Dallas but pushed by Republican State Rep. Jeff Leach of Plano. Their bill passed, but with a majority of Republicans against it.
        
   As Brandon Waltens observed, "A Democrat bill was passed out of a committee led by a Democrat and then approved by Democrats in the House. Aren't Republicans supposed to be in control of Texas?"

'All-Ages' Drag Venue Bans Journalist

• A drag show venue in Fort Worth denied journalist Sara Gonzales entry – correctly fearing she would expose them for targeting children with highly sexualized performances.
       
• Sydnie Henry reports the venue, Tulips FTW, promoted the show as an “all-ages” event.
      
• While Gonzales was not able to get in, her colleague Tayler Hansen and other activists did. Hansen reported that the lead performer sat “with his legs open and exposed his crotch to children in the crowd.” He also reports the children present were encouraged by their parents to tip the drag queens and wave trans flags.
      
• At the event, performer "Salem Moon" – who exposed himself to children at the event – urged everyone present to "apply pressure" against conservatives. Those comments came the same day a trans activist killed three children and three adults at a Christian school in Nashville.

Security Plan Proposes Way To End 'Border Invasion'

• While Texas experiences the hardship of a porous southern border and unprecedented levels of illegal crossings under the Biden administration, a Dallas-based think tank is proposing that Texas take control of the border. Katy Marshall has the details.
     

• Put forward by the Huffines Liberty Foundation, “Operation Clean Sweep” calls for Texas’ governor to declare an invasion at the southern border using Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution.
      

• “The federal government has abandoned its duty under the Constitution to protect Texas from invasion,” explains former State Sen. Don Huffines in introducing this plan. “Illegal aliens are pouring across the Texas Border and invading our state. We are overrun with murderers, rapists, human traffickers, and drugs. The rule of law has been completely subverted.”
      

• The plan asserts that after declaring an invasion, Texas’ governor would have the power to activate the Texas National Guard, state law enforcement, and all other state military forces to enforce immigration laws and repel and expel illegal aliens. 
      

• The proposal also calls on the state to apply economic pressure against Mexico until that country does more to address illegal immigration on their side of the border. The Huffines Liberty Foundation recommends the state discourage tourism into Mexico, while increasing the inspections on all trucks and other shipments coming across the border.

Senate Passes Ban On Gender Reassignment Procedures On Children

• The Texas Senate has approved legislation banning gender mutilation for children, but not before making a significant change to limit its effect. Brandon Waltens reports the legislation still prohibits medical providers from performing “gender transition” surgeries or prescribing cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers to children under the age of 18 suffering from gender dysphoria.
      

• The measure would also require the Texas Medical Board to strip the license of any physician who provides these treatments, and would prohibit the use of public funds for these procedures or drugs.

     

• Before it was voted on, however, the measure was amended to add a grandfather clause. The amendment allows procedures and treatments to continue on children who started receiving puberty blockers and hormones before June 3, which is 90 days prior to the law taking effect.
      

• Chris Hopper, the president of the Texas Family Project, told Texas Scorecard he is glad the ban is moving forward. However, he fears that – because of the language added to the bill – there will be a push to "funnel kids into clinics all across the state in order to obtain their prescription puberty blockers, medications that will cause irreversible damage in the lives of the most troubled members of our society."

Also In The Senate... Women's Sports Get Legislative Protection

• Senators gave their final approval yesterday to legislation prohibiting biological men from competing in women’s sports at the collegiate level in Texas.
       

• Senate Bill 15 was authored by Galveston Republican Mayes Middleton with the strong support of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The measure passed along party lines – 19 Republicans voted for it, while eight Democrats were opposed (three Democrats didn’t vote and a fourth was absent).
      
• "Allowing men to play women’s college sports, in denial of basic common sense, deprives them of the right to be the best in their sport." – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

Higher Ed Status Quo Secure With Latest Regent Picks

• Even as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has embarked upon a bold set of higher education reforms, including the appointment of high-profile conservative Christopher Rufo to the board of one institution, conservative Texans have wondered whether their own governor would follow suit. Gov. Greg Abbott has now answered that question, reports Adam Cahn.
      
• Amid the clamor of an ongoing legislative session, earlier this month Abbott quietly renominated Janiece Longoria and James “Rad” Weaver for a second term on the University of Texas Board of Regents. In addition, Austinite Robert Gauntt replaces Dallas businessman Steve Hicks.

Support Texas Scorecard?

Will you make a special, tax-deductible contribution to support the mission and work of Texas Scorecard? We don’t take government grants or corporate sponsorships, and we don’t put our content behind a paywall. Your support makes Texas Scorecard possible!

Directory of Your U.S. & Texas Lawmakers

This information is automatically inserted based on the mailing address you provide to us. If you'd like to update your contact information, please visit our subscriber portal.