Good morning,

Yesterday, we asked readers about an Air Force memo encouraging base commanders to organize "gay pride" events. You'll find the results, and reader comments, below.

But first, here is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

It's The Spending...

• U.S. national debt is approaching $32 trillion. For perspective, that's $250,000 of debt per taxpayer – or, $95,000 per citizen.
      

• If you're of the "soak the rich" persuasion, you'd need 100% of the total net worth of 173 Elon Musks to pay it off. (The 400 richest Americans have a combined net worth of $4 trillion.)
      

• Until the government stops spending so much, the debt problem will only get worse.

Destroying Souls: Sex Slavery in Texas

• A new investigative series by Robert Montoya and Kristen Stanciu explores the long and storied history of the sex trade in Texas.
    
• Their first article reviews the history of the problem in Texas, including the brothel known as the "Chicken Ranch" in La Grange.
      
• Part 2, which launches at noon today, will examine how public servants’ actions in 2020 made sex slavery worse.

Senate Attempts Final ‘Hail Mary’ Effort on School Choice

• Despite having been repeatedly rebuffed by state representatives, school choice could have one more chance to pass the Texas House before the regular session ends next week. Brandon Waltens has the details.

      
• School choice is a priority of the Republican Party of Texas, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Gov. Greg Abbott, but has had trouble in the Texas House where lawmakers have repeatedly voted against the issue. 
      
• Abbott has warned that failure to pass meaningful school choice legislation would necessitate special sessions – 30-day increments of legislative overtime that can be called by the governor on any issue he chooses.
     

• With less than a week left in the regular legislative session, the Senate is giving the House one more chance to avoid a special session and pass school choice. They are doing so by rewriting House Bill 100 by State Rep. Ken King (R–Canadian), who is an opponent of school choice. As originally passed, King's measure would give $4.5 billion in additional money to government schools.

       
• State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R–Conroe) has rewritten the bill in order to insert a school choice program. The proposal would offer $8,000 per student and be open to the majority of Texas students—though those in schools with a "C" rating or below would receive priority.

House Republicans Reject Effort to Fix Watered-down DEI Ban

• As states like Florida move to ban controversial leftist programs from their state universities, Republicans in the Texas House will instead allow "diversity, equity, and inclusion" practices to continue in the shadows.
      
• As filed, Senate Bill 17 by State Sen. Brandon Creighton would prohibit public universities from establishing a DEI office, using DEI criteria in their hiring practices, or requiring employees or prospective employees to provide a DEI statement or attend a DEI training. But after hours of debate, the measure's House sponsor—John Kuempel (R–Seguin)—introduced an amendment to water it down.
     
• The amendment delays the start of the ban to next year, requires universities to conduct annual studies of DEI on their campuses, and most notably requires colleges to keep DEI administrators employed and find other positions for them within the school.
       
• “Most DEI administrators are not qualified to do anything but grievance activism, so they will just keep doing it with a more mundane-sounding title,” said Scott Yenor, the senior director of state coalitions at the Claremont Institute’s Center for the American Way of Life.

Women Sue Texas Over Abortion Law

• Eight women have joined a lawsuit against Texas, claiming that the state’s abortion law endangered their lives. Katy Marshall reports the Center for Reproductive Rights first filed the lawsuit in March 2023 on behalf of five women and two obstetrician-gynecologists who claimed that Texas’ medical emergency exception for abortions is too vague.

       
• The lawsuit alleges that Texas’ abortion law contains conflicting language and non-medical terminology and that doctors are too afraid to rely on the exception for fear of professional or legal backlash. The plaintiffs want the state to issue a binding interpretation of the law to clarify which circumstances create a medical emergency and when doctors can perform an abortion without violating state statutes.
       
• A spokesman for the Office of the Texas Attorney General said Ken Paxton is committed to “doing everything in his power to protect mothers, families, and unborn children, and he will continue to defend and enforce the laws duly enacted by the Texas Legislature.”

Drag Queen-themed Burger Joint Opens Second Texas Location

• Amid the Texas Legislature’s move to ban sexually explicit performances targeting children, a drag queen-themed burger joint will be opening this June. Soli Rice has the story.
      
• As first reported by Dallas Express, the Hamburger Mary franchise will be opening its second Texas location in Dallas; the first is located in Houston. This will be Hamburger Mary’s second attempt at a Dallas location, the first having closed more than 10 years ago.
       
• According to a statement from the franchise owner, various drag shows and events will take place nightly.
   
• How appetizing... overweight men, scantily dressed as women, prancing around while you eat...
           

• Although the website mentions a kids’ menu, a spokesman for the ownership company told Texas Scorecard the Dallas location will be 21 and over and the kids' menu will not be available.
       

• The Houston location has also been investigated several times by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission over the past few years.

Tim Scott Announces For President With 0% Support In Texas

• U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina has officially announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president. But, as Emily Wilkerson reports, he faces an uphill battle in the Lone Star State.
      
• In a poll by CWS Research from earlier this month, 0 percent of Republican voters said they would support Scott. Leading the field among Republican voters is former President Donald Trump with 54 percent, followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 16 percent.
       
• Other candidates, like former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, are only garnering single-digit support in the polls. 
      
• The primary election in Texas will be held on March 5, 2024.

House Approves Prohibition on COVID-19 Mandates

• Texas state and local governments won’t be able to restrict personal freedoms in the name of COVID-19 any longer. Sydnie Henry reports the House has passed legislation that prohibits state agencies and local governments from requiring individuals to wear a face mask, receive a vaccine, or keep their businesses closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or its variants.
      
• On the House floor, a Democrat was allowed to offer an amendment giving assisted living facilities the ability to mandate masks or vaccines.
       
• Originally passed by the Senate, the altered measure must now be approved by senators before it can go to Gov. Abbott for his consideration.

MACIAS: House Took the Weekend Off... But No One Knows Why

• With the legislative session coming quickly to an end, Luke Macias wonders why a blubbering House speaker killed the legislative calendar.
       
• You can find the Luke Macias Show on Texas Scorecard, wherever you listen to podcasts, or on YouTube.

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Y'All Answered

The United States Air Force wants every installation commander to prepare activities and events centered around celebrating "gay pride" in the month of June. This has drawn condemnation from U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and others.

Yesterday, we asked readers if the branches of the U.S. military should celebrate "gay pride." Answering "yes" were just 1.46% of readers, compared to 98.54% answering "no."

Here is a sampling of the responses I received in my inbox...

• “In my opinion, focus on gender or sexual preferences is a “private matter” more than a “celebration of military consciousness” of individual preferences. Military effectiveness to protect the security of our nation is paramount. Misdirecting energy on collateral concerns that do not relate to the defined mission of our services leads to the deterioration of the disciplines necessary to support our security needs.” – Joe Cordina, Col., USAF, Ret.
      

• “As a former Air Force commander who retired recently, it was the woke climate that drove me out. The promotion of LGBTQ as something to be celebrated is undermining the principle of Service before Self. We were always the same in our uniforms; we gave up our “selves” for the Nation. That is crumbling, and it’s heartbreaking.” – Lenore Hackenyos, Lt. Col. USAF Reserve, Ret.
      

• “You're kidding me, right?!” – Joseph Tortorice
      

• “It's that slippery slope again. First, you just have to accept aberrant behavior, then you have to celebrate it. How long before you're punished by losing your job for not actively celebrating ‘gay pride’? I think we're almost there.” – Cindy Armstrong
      

• “After having served in the U.S. Air Force for over 38 years, I don't recognize it anymore. I fear for the security of our country…” – Chuck Breedlove
      

• "Isn't it strange that LGBTQ Pride gets a full month, while Veterans only get a day?" – Allan Toole
      

• "The object of the military is to kill people and break things. Not social engineering!" – Bob Davis, USN, Ret.
      

• “If taxpayer money is spent to ‘commemorate the contributions of LGBTQ Americans,’ it means that too much taxpayer money is being collected.” – Tom Camardo
       

• The ONLY way I could support it is if they change the definition of LGBTQ to ‘Let's Get Biden To Quit.’” – Patrick Bell
      

• "Why is 3% of the U.S. population dictating the celebration, decoration, activities, and in some cases, even attire for the 97%? It feels like the 97% has just about had enough." – Bob Frapples
       

• “Hell no! That is just stupid. I am a U.S. Air Force veteran having served proudly from 1968 to 1972. Why the pandering to individual groups??” – Dennis Mease
      

• "Politics doesn't belong in our military, let alone our defense agencies.  It just divides us and takes our focus away from the things that really matter. We are all one people under God. Let us move away from the things that divide us; it serves no purpose except for our corrupt government." – Madeline Bentivegna
        

• “I'm confused as to what exactly it is that they are proud of.” – Rod Jenkins
      

• “No. No, and No.  I spent 23 years in the military.  Our job was to defend our nation and our interests abroad, not conduct social experiments.  The military should take notice of the fact that recruiting numbers are down this fiscal year.  The reason: they have gone off the military reservation to join the societal call for this 3% movement.  The military is supposed to be representing all of the high ideals of Lady Liberty, not lowering itself into the swamp of confusion.” – Greg Reinhart
       

• “The ONLY legitimate use of the military is to destroy the enemy.” – David Crouch  
      

• “Just shows how much this country has been politicized when the military takes on programs promoting LGBTQ.  The only purpose of the military's existence is the defense of our country.  Any general authorizing this stuff needs to be given a dishonorable discharge.” – Alan Smith
      

• “Pride is the root of all evil and the deadliest of all sins.” – Chris Vizi
      

• “The Air Force is and should only be a defense/offense-only taxpayer-funded organization and should never stray from that priority. Especially on social issues. Second, I don't understand what you are proud of. This is a sexual preference. That's it. You didn't win a race or discover a new medicine. You're not even a nationality.” – Mike Masterson
      

• “As long as gays are serving in the Air Force, and as long as the Air Force celebrates Black History Month, Women's History Month, Hispanic Month, etc., then why not Gay Pride Month too? Now, if you want to redirect the money for all those events into something improving readiness, I'm with you.” – Jerry Harben
      

• “I miss the ‘good old days’ of ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell.’ Ha.” – Tony Anderson
      

• “The military should be apolitical and unconcerned with the social mores of the day. They are trained to fight and defend. They are best at blowing up things and killing the enemy, not waving silly rainbow flags that represent less than 10% of the population. I don’t expect a military parade on St. Patrick’s Day, nor should there be one.” – Steve Sullivan
      

• “Do drag shows for children qualify as ‘contributions’ to be ‘commemorated’ by our military?” – Anne Hedleston 
      

• “And July will be Straight Pride month, right?” – Corey Mayou
      

• “This insane pandering to a very tiny minority has to stop. I don’t care what you do in your private life, but the military is not the place for these celebrations.” – Diana Firestone
       

• "Absolutely not! It's the Department of DEFENSE, not the Department of Sexuality." – Dirk P. DeKoch

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