The Bathroom Bill Arrives In Texas

After four hours of debate, the Texas House on Thursday evening passed on a lopsided 86-45 vote Senate Bill 8, the so-called bathroom bill requiring people to use restrooms in all public spaces (like public schools and government buildings) according to their sex at birth and not gender identity. 

It is one of the final acts erasing transgender and nonbinary people from the state. And the first time a bathroom ball has gotten so far into the legislature since the first proposals were introduced eight years ago.

There were passionate, sincere (and insincere) arguments for and against the bill, and many horrible, nasty and plainly false statements. But one member’s speech truly stood out.

Here is Rep. Hillary Hickland, a Central Texas Republican:

Hickland was referring to Dallas Democrat Rep. Rafael Anchía, who, in a speech against the bill, quoted the Bible verse Matthew 7:2, which states, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

At the end of her speech supporting the bill, Hickland knocked Anchía for cherry picking Scripture, then cited Matthew 7:15: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”

Perhaps she should check a few lines down in Matthew 7:21-23:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

The bill has already passed the state senate and will head next to Governor Abbott’s desk next. Human Rights Campaign President Kelly Robinson blasted the legislation, and vowed to continue mobilizing and fighting against the discriminatory law.

“For the bullies in Austin, everything they are doing in this special session is about exerting control simply because they can: control over who represents the people of Texas in Congress, control over the legislators’ ability to leave the legislative chamber, and control over who can safely use the restroom,” said Robinson in a statement. “All Texans deserve better. That’s why we won’t back down. We will organize, mobilize, and fight until every Texan can live freely, authentically, and without fear.”