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They're at it again, John.
The House Public Education Committee is hearing SB 13, a book banning bill , tomorrow . This bill would make it easier for political appointees and bad actors to target stories by and for LGBTQIA+ people and communities of color under the false banner of “parental control.”
Can you make it out to the Capitol tomorrow to testify? [[link removed]]
When: Tuesday, May 6, at 8:00 AM
Where: Reagan Office Building - JHR 140 (105 W. 15th St.)
Sign up to testify [[link removed]]
Want to help out, but not up for testifying? Sign up to volunteer in other ways! [[link removed]]
Heads up: We are expecting it to be another long hearing day. Testimony sign-up will happen in the morning, but it could take hours for the hearing to begin. They want to tire us out, but we will be ready to alert volunteers the moment we know public testimony has begun. When you sign up to testify, you can also sign up to receive our SMS alerts throughout the day.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP FROM ANYWHERE IN TEXAS
✍ Submit a public comment online: [tfn.org/public-comment] If you can’t join us in Austin tomorrow, submitting a public comment online against SB 13 is another powerful way to officially register your stance on the bill and share your thoughts and concerns [tfn.org/public-comment] .
‼️ While you're at it, consider submitting a comment against SB 11 [tfn.org/public-comment] , which would allow time for prayer and reading religious texts in schools. It's up for a hearing Wednesday 5/7 . Their attacks are relentless, but so are we ✊.
📱 Contact legislators with our form: [[link removed]] Whether you can join us tomorrow or not, you can contact your representatives using our action form [[link removed]] to urge them to vote down this bill.
More about SB 13:
This legislation would ban books by forcing vendors to “rate books for sexually explicit content,” create an unnecessary “catalog” of library materials, and require school districts to establish “library advisory councils” that could easily be infiltrated by bad actors seeking to censor materials about LGBTQIA+, Black, and brown people. This advisory board would then have the power to approve or deny all library material purchases.
Parents already have the right to choose what their kids read in school—this bill is book banning, plain and simple. Learn more about SB 13 on our blog. [[link removed]]
Points to consider when crafting your testimony and comments:
* Senate Bill 13 is an all-out attack on truth, freedom, and the right of every child to see themselves in the books they read.
* SB 13 empowers political appointees and bad actors to decide what our kids can and can’t read. It’s censorship, plain and simple, targeting LGBTQIA+ youth and communities of color under the false banner of “parental control.”
* Librarians and educators shouldn’t be forced to act as censorship police. They should be trusted to guide students, not having to risk their careers for offering honest, inclusive learning.
* Lawmakers pushing SB 13 aren’t protecting children. They’re policing identity, targeting families, and fueling a culture war.
* If politicians actually cared about education, they’d be funding our schools and raising teacher pay, not pushing fear and censorship by banning books to score points with extremists.
We won’t back down. We won’t be silent. And we won’t let Texas kids grow up in a state where the truth is optional and visibility is a threat.
Hope to see you tomorrow,
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Emerald Belmarez (she/her/hers)
TFN Senior Organizing Strategist
P.S. As we mentioned above, SB 11, which would allow time for prayer or reading religious texts in public schools, is up for a hearing on Wednesday, 5/7. Tomorrow will undoubtedly be a long day, but if you're able, we encourage you to go to the Capitol to drop a card [[link removed]] or submit a public comment opposing the bill [tfn.org/public-comment] .
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TFN is a statewide non-partisan, grassroots organization that is building an informed and effective movement working toward equality and social justice.
Texas Freedom Network
P.O. Box 1624
Austin, TX 78767
United States
Phone: (512) 322-0545
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