Equality Texas has new video and logo to bring more awareness to the organization
DAVID TAFFET | Senior Staff Writer
taffet@dallasvoice.com
Equality Texas has released a new video and logo as a recommitment to its mission, and the organization is asking its supporters to sign a pledge to join the fight against attacks on equal rights.
“The reality is we’re under attack; we’ve been under attack, and we don’t expect the attack to stop,” said Chuck Smith, CEO of Equality Texas.
That prompted a new slogan featured prominently in the organization’s new video: “If you attack one Texan, you attack all Texans.”
Smith said that while lobbying remains a priority for the Equality Texas during legislative sessions, the Equality Texas Foundation’s education work has become the largest part of what the organization does.
The foundation’s work includes Queer the Vote encouraging voter participation; the Trans Visible Project sharing trans people’s stories across the state; Keep Texas Open for Business reaching out to businesses for support, and the Equality Project that includes lobby training.
The election project is Smith’s current priority.
“The 2018 election cycle is a big deal,” Smith said.
He said two Dallas County races have statewide importance. Jessica Gonzales, who is lesbian, won her primary, and since she has no opponent in November, she will become the third lesbian in the Texas House of Representatives. The other two are Rep. Mary Gonzales, D-El Paso, and Rep. Celia Israel, D-Austin.
And in northwest Dallas County, Julie Johnson is running for a state House seat against bathroom bill author Matt Rinaldi.
“Julie’s district is one of the highest-priority races in the state,” Smith said.
Smith said that having LGBT legislators makes his work easier.
“They take away [opponents’] ability to talk about the community in the abstract,” he said.
Mary Gonzales knows agriculture, and Israel is a transportation expert. With the friends they have made throughout the Legislature, they discuss topics other than LGBT issues.
And in that way, Smith said, “They change the dynamic.”
Through the election, Smith said, the voter project will work to motivate people to participate. And last weekend’s March for Our Lives worked hand-in-hand with Equality Texas’ goals.
“Two of our core principles are protecting youth and preventing violence,” Smith said.
Voter registration that took place at the marches throughout the state registered mostly millennials, Smith said, and that group is mostly supportive of LGBT equal treatment.
Smith asked supporters to do two things — share the video and sign the pledge.
https://www.equalitytexas.org/take-action/pledge/
He said despite the advances in equality, or maybe because of them, hate crimes are on the rise and legislative efforts are undermining marriage equality, legalizing discrimination as a religious right and blocking access to healthcare.
The pledge is to help Equality Texas fight back against these attacks.
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