AUSTIN – The Texas State Senate today passed Senate Bill 17, which would allow licensed professionals such as counselors and teachers to use religion as a reason to discriminate. The bill will now move to the Texas House of Representatives for consideration.
“Our federal and state laws already amply protect religious liberty,” said Adriana Píñon, senior policy counsel for the ACLU of Texas. “SB 17, on the other hand, freely opens the door to discrimination against anyone, especially leaving LGBTQ Texans vulnerable. Religious freedom does not include the right to foist your religious beliefs onto others or demand that taxpayers subsidize discrimination based on religious objections. We call on the Texas House of Representatives to reject this dangerous, unnecessary bill.”
