News & Commentary

In the past year, we’ve witnessed so many agonizing examples of the brutal reality of systemic racism. We’ve mourned the loss of more than 270,000 American lives from a deadly pandemic. We’ve seen a dramatic shift in the ideological balance at the U.S. Supreme Court, placing abortion access, LGBTQ equality, and voting rights in peril. And threats to our democracy seem to be mounting. 

Trans Awareness week runs from Nov. 13 to Nov. 19 and ends, officially, on Nov. 20, with Transgender Day of Remembrance.

In an unprecedented year, it’s only natural that we have an unprecedented election. It’s the first in our lifetimes to occur during a global pandemic, and one in which an unprecedented number of votes are being cast after being mailed to voters. While we’re used to watching the results roll in on live TV on election night, this time it may take some time beyond election night to call the winner.

With just about a week to go until Election Day, Texas is already seeing record-shattering voter turnout, with millions of Texans heading to the polls.

Carl Takei, Former Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU’s Trone Center for Justice and Equality

In early June

This year, many Texans are choosing to cast their votes by mail. Voting by mail is a safe and reliable way to make your voice heard in this election, but there are several important things to know and key deadlines to remember.

For years, the U.S.-Mexico border has been a testing ground for practices that violate people's rights. Under the Trump administration these policies have become more extreme.

Shaw Drake, He/Him/His, Staff Attorney and Policy Counsel, Border and Immigrants’ Rights, ACLU of Texas

Customs and B

As students go back to school across the state, families are facing unprecedented challenges. And as some students attend classes online, others are venturing back into the classroom or doing a hybrid of in-person and remote learning. Even in these trying times, students continue to face challenges that existed even before COVID. In hallways, classrooms, and even online, students still face different forms bullying, harassment, and discrimination on the basis of their gender identity, sexual orientation, sex, race, and religion.