by Isaac James
As a Government major with a minor in LGBTQ Studies, I knew that the opportunity to intern with the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus during the 87th Legislative Session was a fantastic way to combine my interest in public policy and LGBTQ rights during a critical time in our state’s history. Before the start of the legislative session, my colleagues and I anticipated six months focused on pandemic relief, power plant weatherization, and rebuilding the Texas economy.
We were wrong.
The 87th Legislative Session gave rise to a record thirty anti-LGBTQ bills, many of which targeted the physical and mental wellbeing of trans youth across the state. As an intern with the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus, I was on the front lines of defense against homophobic and transphobic attacks seeking to invalidate the identities of our state’s most vulnerable communities.
The Texas House LGBTQ Caucus was created in January 2019 to create an avenue for legislators to address issues affecting LGBTQ Texans. The Caucus creates awareness around issues of equality and advocates for LGBTQ rights while using an intersectional lens to strive for a more inclusive Texas. Throughout the legislative session, each day brought a new challenge. My regular tasks included crafting a social media strategy, tracking the movement of LGBTQ-related bills, writing constituent letters, and assisting Caucus leadership with miscellaneous tasks. I also had the opportunity to draft amendments designed to kill or modify anti-LGBTQ bills, a great introduction to the intricacies of legislative strategy.
The 87th Legislative Session was the most conservative session in recent memory, boasting a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills, violent attacks on reproductive healthcare, and a dangerous obsession with firearms. Throughout the session, the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus worked hard to obstruct, undermine, and defeat anti-LGBTQ bills threatening the wellbeing of vulnerable Texans. One of my regular tasks was creating “bad bill summaries” that detailed the history, harms, and hidden details of anti-LGBTQ bills. We shared these summaries with legislators belonging to the Caucus who sat on committees where these bills were being heard so policymakers were better informed about the dangers of obstructing healthcare for trans youth, prohibiting participation in sporting activities, etc.
It became hard to find a silver lining during a session filled with so much hate and distrust. But I am proud of a small victory: my work with Texas House Bill 4064, The Protect Texas Students Act. LGBTQ-inclusive education policy is a personal passion; as a student advocate at UT Austin through organizations like the Senate of College Councils and the Queer and Trans Student Alliance, I have learned about the importance of LGBTQ-inclusive education policies in maintaining a positive and welcoming school environment where all students can pursue an education without fear of bullying, harassment, or discrimination. Thanks to the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus, I had the opportunity to pursue this policy area at the state level through House Bill 4064, which would have protected Texas K-12 students from bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. The Caucus allowed me to craft the content of the legislation, spearhead the drafting process, and supervise its movement through the legislature. Although the legislation ultimately fell victim to political maneuvering, we secured a hearing for the bill before the House Public Education Committee. As the first bill filed in state history to prohibit bullying and harassment in K-12 schools based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, jump-starting public dialogue on this critical issue was a powerful victory.
Working with a team as dedicated, passionate, and effective as the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus has been a dream come true. This internship experience has solidified my passion for public service and increased my confidence in navigating the complicated nature of the Texas Legislature. I’m so thankful to the Executive Director of the Caucus, Greer Gregory, and the Chair of the Caucus, Rep. Mary González, for being supportive of my interests and understanding of my outside responsibilities. The Deputy Director of the Caucus, Ryan Sparkman (a former LGBTQ Studies Intern!), was the best supervisor I could ask for.
Although this legislative session was difficult, there are still ways you can let your voice be heard by our state leaders:
- Register to vote at https://vote.gov/register/tx/! Electing more LGBTQ-friendly legislators is the easiest way to impact public policy affecting LGBTQ Texans.
- Visit https://texaslgbtqcaucus.com to learn more about the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus, and check them out on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
- Visit https://www.equalitytexas.org to browse ways to get involved in statewide LGBTQ advocacy. Equality Texas was a critical ally at the Capitol this session and did an incredible job organizing witness testimony, creating advocacy coalitions, and mobilizing public voice to put pressure on legislators.
Isaac James (he/him) is a senior Government, Plan II Honors, and LGBTQ+ Studies student. As a Legislative Intern for the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus in Spring 2021, Isaac spearheaded the drafting process for HB 4064, the first bill filed in state history that would prohibit bullying and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in K-12 education. An advocate for queer and trans student needs on campus, Isaac has served as Co-Director of the Queer and Trans Student Alliance and currently sits on the President’s Advisory Committee for LGBTQIA+ Initiatives. After graduating from UT Austin in Spring 2022, Isaac plans to attend law school and eventually pursue a career at the intersection of LGBTQIA-inclusive education policy and public service.
