Latest news with #TexasValues
Buzz Feed
7 days ago
- Politics
- Buzz Feed
Texas Schools Religious Requirements Stir Debate
If you didn't know, Texas public schools are introducing a new slate of regulations this year after state legislators passed hundreds of laws, including banning cellphones and school-sponsored DEI or LGBTQ+ clubs. The laws that have gained the most attention are not just what's being removed from the institutions but what's being added — mandatory prayer time and the Ten Commandments in every classroom. Here's a quick breakdown of what will be prohibited in Texas schools. House Bill 1481 will prohibit students from using cellphones and any other personal electronic devices at school. The legislators believe this new law will improve performance and reduce distractions in the Bill 12 will prohibit any school-sponsored clubs based on gender identity or sexual orientation, and any diversity, equity, and inclusion programs or policies in K-12 Senate Bill 13, school boards and parents will have a final say over which books are allowed in some school libraries, not librarians. If 10% or at least 50 parents request an advisory council to approve/remove materials in school libraries, the institution must create free or reduced school lunches and breakfast programs, Senate Bill 314 will ban certain additives (brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, red dye 3, and more). According to lawmakers, the additives introduce long-term health risks and disorders to everything is being taken away from Texas schools. Some things are being added to campuses due to these new laws. House Bill 27 will require financial literacy classes to be added to the high school curriculum starting in 2026. Public schools will receive new funding for teachers, early childhood development, special education, insurance, and more. Families will also have public access to private school vouchers thanks to Senate Bill 2. What's being added to schools is what is really gaining attention and going viral. Senate Bill 11 will require schools to designate Bible reading and prayer time during the school day. And Senate Bill 10 will require public elementary and secondary schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom on a visible 16" x 20" poster. According to Texas news reports, organizations like Texas Values, a faith-based conservative nonprofit, partner with like-minded groups to donate Ten Commandment posters to classrooms. While the new law requires donated posters to be displayed, some districts have actually purchased their own posters. Even lawmakers in support of the bills have started raising money to buy posters to prepare the schools for the Sept. 1 deadline. The new Texas laws have gone viral and have sparked many concerned reactions and comments. "No phones? Ten Commandments? Thank goodness I graduated when I did because this all sounds so miserable. I feel bad for the kids," one person wrote. Another person said, "i'm genuinely astounded by how texas managed to get away with such blatant violations of the separation of church and state as 'every classroom must have a visible 16" x20" poster of the ten commandments on display.' this country is headed backwards so fast it's unbelievable." Someone else added, "there's nothing inherently wrong with being christian but forcing every classroom to display the ten commandments is so fucking dystopian." This person said, "Prayer Time and the Ten Commandments are a jump scare." "The Ten Commandments in school thing is so funny. Gotta remind first graders not to kill someone or bang their neighbor's wife," another person said. "the ten commandments must be on display when the president has broken at least 8 of them so why are they acting like they matter," someone else commented. And finally, someone brutally wrote, "Oh, good- so when one of the students (in the state with the most registered firearms) shows up with their parents gun and decides to light it up, the students will have prayer hour and a ten commandment poster to look at but not the ability to call 911 or their parents." What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Texas Senate Passes Bill Defining ‘Man' And ‘Woman' Based On Biology
On Thursday, the Texas Senate voted 20-11 to pass House Bill 229, known as the 'Women's Bill of Rights.' This bill, which defines 'man' and 'woman' based on biological reproductive systems for state records such as birth certificates and driver's licenses, now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign it into law. Authored by Rep. Ellen Troxclair (R-Lakeway) and carried in the Senate by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), the bill aligns with efforts by President Donald Trump to enforce a biological definition of sex, including an executive order targeting 'transgender' participation in women's sports. HB 229 requires state agencies to classify individuals as male or female based on whether their reproductive system is developed to produce ova or fertilize ova, respectively. An amendment clarifies that intersex individuals are not a third sex but must receive accommodations under state and federal law. Supporters argue the bill protects women's single-sex spaces, such as locker rooms and shelters, and clarifies legal definitions. 'With this bill, women and girls will know that Texas has their back and will not allow hard-fought rights to be eroded by activists who seek to erase them,' Troxclair said, The Texas Tribune reported. M. E. Castle, director of government relations for Texas Values, a Christian advocacy group, praised the vote: 'The message is clear: You don't mess with Texas women. HB 229 makes sure that the reality and truth of the two sexes is clear in Texas law and never altered by school districts, local cities, or bureaucrats ever again!' Opponents, including LGBTQ rights advocates, argue the bill marginalizes 'transgender' and intersex individuals. Sen. José Menéndez (D-San Antonio) called it a 'form of state-sponsored discrimination,' telling the Texas Tribune, 'If a law forces non-binary Texans, who are real people, into categories that don't reflect their lived experiences or identities … that would actually become discrimination in practice.' Sarah Corbin of the ACLU of Texas questioned its enforcement: 'The question of the hour is how will [HB] 229 be enforced and applied. What we do know is that it's incredibly disrespectful to so many Texans the Legislature represents, and completely disregards their identity.' The bill's legislative intent section, which does not alter statutes but guides interpretation, emphasizes 'immutable' biological differences, noting women's historical vulnerability to violence and the need for single-sex spaces. Critics, like Rep. Jessica González, D-Dallas, raised concerns about intersex individuals and women unable to conceive, arguing, 'We should not be boiling down a human's existence into one's ability to reproduce, because this is harmful, it is dangerous, and it is really just freaking insulting.' Troxclair countered that the bill applies to systems designed for reproduction, 'whether or not they are fully developed, whether or not they are capable of functioning.' With more than 120,000 Texans identifying as 'transgender,' advocates worry about practical impacts. Shelly Skeen of Lambda Legal said mismatched identification documents could force 'transgender' individuals to out themselves in everyday situations, such as voting or banking. Heather Clark, whose wife is 'transgender,' testified that carrying a driver's license misaligned with appearance would be 'untenable,' creating 'ample daily opportunities for discrimination' against her. Texas becomes the 14th state to pass such a law, following states like Kansas and Montana, where similar measures have faced legal challenges. Laura Lane-Steele, a University of South Carolina law professor, noted potential constitutional issues, including privacy and free speech violations, calling the law's application a 'big fat question mark.' Montana's law was struck down in February for violating privacy and equal protection rights, while Kansas' law faces ongoing ACLU challenges. The bill lacks civil or criminal penalties and focuses on record-keeping, but its broader implications remain unclear. Corbin said the ACLU of Texas is monitoring whether it will be narrowly applied to documents or used for wider policy changes. 'If it starts being used that way, they'll definitely hear from us,' she said. A 2022 survey found that 63% of Texas voters, including 87% of Republicans, support defining gender by birth certificate sex.
Miami Herald
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Texas Senate Passes Bill on Definition of Woman: ‘Reality and Truth'
The Texas Senate passed a bill requiring the state to adhere to a biological definition of men and women, a move campaigners welcomed as a win for "truth and reality" and one that protects single sex spaces. But advocates for LGBTQ rights said the bill is harmful to the lives of trans people, who will face greater marginalization and discrimination as a result. Called the "Women's Bill of Rights," Texas senators passed HB 229 by 20 votes to 11, sending the bill to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature. "The message is clear: You don't mess with Texas women," said M. E. Castle, director of government relations for Texas Values, a Christian advocacy group, in a statement posted to X. "HB 229 makes sure that the reality and truth of the two sexes is clear in Texas law and never altered by school districts, local cities, or bureaucrats ever again! "With today's vote in the Senate, Texas will lay the foundation for protecting women's spaces and opportunities." This is a developing article and more information will be added soon. Related Articles Supreme Court's Free Speech v. Paxton Decision Could Protect Kids Online | OpinionPioneering Aerospace Medicine Program to Study Long-Term Effects of Space TravelTexas GOP Rep Accused of Breaking Commandment With Ten Commandments VoteTexas Expanding Legal Cannabis Access Before Wider Ban 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Texas Senate Passes Bill on Definition of Woman: 'Reality and Truth'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Texas Senate passed a bill requiring the state to adhere to a biological definition of men and women, a move campaigners welcomed as a win for "truth and reality" and one that protects single sex spaces. But advocates for LGBTQ rights said the bill is harmful to the lives of trans people, who will face greater marginalization and discrimination as a result. Called the "Women's Bill of Rights," Texas senators passed HB 229 by 20 votes to 11, sending the bill to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature. "The message is clear: You don't mess with Texas women," said M. E. Castle, director of government relations for Texas Values, a Christian advocacy group, in a statement posted to X. "HB 229 makes sure that the reality and truth of the two sexes is clear in Texas law and never altered by school districts, local cities, or bureaucrats ever again! "With today's vote in the Senate, Texas will lay the foundation for protecting women's spaces and opportunities." This is a developing article and more information will be added soon.
Washington Post
27-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Texas close to requiring Ten Commandments in public school classrooms
Texas lawmakers are close to passing a bill to require public schools to exhibit the Ten Commandments in classrooms starting this fall, a victory for the religious right that critics say blurs the line between church and state. 'There's no doubt about the historical and cultural foundations and the significance of the Ten Commandments for our heritage and systems of law,' said Thomas Saenz, president and attorney for Texas Values, a Christian legal and policy advocacy group supporting the measure. 'There's value for students to have an awareness of those things.'
