Dear community,

We're writing you today along with our partner Transgender Education Network of Texas to ask you to submit a public comment on a disgraceful bill being heard in the Texas State House Committee on State Affairs tomorrow, August 22nd. SB 8 would prohibit trans and nonbinary people from accessing essential facilities like restrooms, locker rooms, and dorms in government buildings. This includes schools, colleges, detention facilities, family violence shelters, and more.

Click here or navigate to https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c450 and select SB 8 to submit your comments. 

When filling out the form, use a nickname and enter an address you are associated with. You don’t have to enter your profession or professional title; instead, you can submit comments on behalf of yourself by entering “self” in the Organization/Representing space.

Remember, these are public comments. Avoid sharing personal, private information.  

Here is some sample language to help you craft your public comments.

“I urge this committee to not use trans people as bargaining chips for political gain. Despite there being a limited amount of time in a special session, the legislature is shamefully intent on wasting valuable time—and taxpayer money—on explicitly harming trans, gender expansive, and intersex Texans. Instead, the focus should be solely on addressing the issues impacting all Texans, like improving disaster and emergency preparedness, response, and recovery after fatal floods in Kerrville and Central Texas.

[TIP: Have these climate events impacted you personally? If so, this is a good time to briefly (2-4 sentences) share your story & why it matters to you that disaster relief is prioritized.]

We should be focusing on real issues, not targeting a small minority for a nonexistent problem. I urge the committee to vote NO on SB 8.”

Thank you so much for sharing your voice and making sure the legislature hears trans and nonbinary voices today,

Transgender Law Center + TENT