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'You can't hide the intent': Religious protection bill worries LGBTQ+ advocates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:52 GMT

Project Summary: In 2023, a fifth of the country’s state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Houston attorney Neil Giles smiles at the very mention of his twins, both of whom attend the University of Texas at Austin and both of whom identify as non-binary."They're both extremely smart," Giles said with a chuckle. "They're very different in some ways and very similar in some ways." Explore OutLa...

Inside the ‘Outlaw’ project: Collaboration, bias awareness and fairness

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:52 GMT

(KXAN) — How do you cover a story when you’re part of it? For LGBTQ+ journalists at KXAN, the record number of bills filed at the Texas State Capitol in 2023 restricting their community brought concerns – and presented an opportunity.After thorough discussion among newsroom leaders, we decided to lean into the informed, well-sourced reporting those journalists could offer, launching our sixth “Catalyst” investigative project to date. Knowing the topic was already highly-politicized and often emotional in legislative hearings and beyond, we wanted to take a multi-platform, extensive look – and produce it in a way our audience would know we are striving to maintain objectivity and fairness.It started with a broad look at the legislation proposed and analyzing the background, influence and outcome of each bill we focused our reporting around. Some measures passed, others progressed further than ever before. As our investigators tried to track down details on the players behind these po...

Texas almost stopped library drag story time. Will it try again?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:52 GMT

Project Summary: In 2023, a fifth of the country’s state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future. AUSTIN (KXAN) — On a sweltering Saturday afternoon in August, a group of parents escaped the heat with their children to go to an indoor story time led by someone who looked like she might have stepped off a picture book's colorful pages. The crowd chanted and acted out the words with the host, as she read through one bo...

How new Texas law restricting some books stacks up nationwide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:52 GMT

Project Summary: In 2023, a fifth of the country’s state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas was among the states contributing to book restrictions across the nation, a surge that set a record in 2022 and appears on track to do the same in 2023, according to the American Library Association. The national organization documented the attempts to remove books from public and school librar...

Trans athlete restrictions sweep the country. Will they stick?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:52 GMT

Project Summary: In 2023, a fifth of the country’s state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Sports and athletics have always been a central part of Mack Beggs’ life.  “I did dance competitively — ballet, tap [and] modern,” he said. “I did baseball, tee ball, soccer, pole vault, volleyball — like everything.” Explore OutLaw: A half-century of criminalizing LGBTQ+ Texans If that wasn’t eno...

Lawmaker efforts foreshadow challenges for Texas drag future

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:52 GMT

Project Summary: In 2023, a fifth of the country’s state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future. AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new Texas law which opponents feared could ban some drag performances remains tied up in court. A federal judge out of Houston ruled the state cannot enforce the law that would restrict and criminalize "sexually oriented performances" in front of children. Explore OutLaw: A half-century of ...

Texas didn't pass a gender identity law for schools. Now, some districts make their own plans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:52 GMT

Project Summary: In 2023, a fifth of the country’s state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future. AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Following a Texas legislative session that featured dozens of bills aimed at LGBTQ+-related issues, some school districts statewide are taking matters into their own hands to implement policies restricting gender identity and sexual orientation discussions.Texas State Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, introd...

Helping or hurting trans kids? Health care fight continues after law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:52 GMT

Project Summary: In 2023, a fifth of the country’s state-level bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community were filed in Texas, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. Equality Texas tracked a record 141 such bills this year up from just 12 in 2015. Some policies passed and several others progressed substantially in the most recent legislative session. KXAN’s team of journalists – many LGBTQ+ staff members with unique, developed and inside perspectives providing nuance to our fair, rigorous and balanced reporting standards – produced multimedia stories like this one for the “OutLaw” project, taking an in-depth look at what this trend could mean for Texas’ future. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas is among nearly two dozen states banning transgender care for minors. A legal fight played out as soon as Gov. Greg Abbott signed the legislation in June. Explore OutLaw: A half-century of criminalizing LGBTQ+ Texans Five Texas families with transgender children along with three doctors sued ...

EU co-ordinates further six humanitarian air bridge flights for Gaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:52 GMT

The EU continues to work around the clock to channel humanitarian assistance to Gaza. A further six EU humanitarian air bridge flights are now scheduled for the coming days. Of these, two flights from Brindisi, Italy, are scheduled to depart today and tomorrow carrying 55 tonnes of items donated from the EU to the World Food Programme.The cargo includes logistical items, such a mobile storage unit, cold-chain supplies and other items that will increase the capacity of humanitarian organisations to ensure a more efficient response for people in Gaza. A further three flights are due to depart next week from Bucharest carrying shelter material, such as tents and mattresses, donated by Romania. The remaining flight will depart from Ostend (Belgium) later this month carrying supplies from UN agencies and other humanitarian partners.President Ursula von der Leyen said: “The European Union has always been the largest international donor to the Palestinian people. We remain committed to the...

Pro-Israeli demonstration held in Thousand Oaks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:52 GMT

A rally in support of Israel was held Sunday in Thousand Oaks at the same location where a 69-year-old Jewish man died last week while voicing his support for the state of Israel. Following the tragic death of Paul Kessler after an altercation with a pro-Palestinian demonstrator on Nov. 5, a rally for peace and unity was organized to bring an end to the rising level of hate.  Since Hamas’s bloody invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, the greater Los Angeles region has experienced shockwaves of grief and hate.    Sheriff: Not enough evidence yet to bring charges in death of Jewish demonstrator State Senator Henry Stern was pleading for peaceful gatherings and an end to intimidation of the Jewish community.  “Let’s not let Hamas spread those seeds of hate deeper into our backyard,” he said at Sunday’s rally.  A pro-Israeli demonstration for peace was held in Thousand Oaks on Nov. 12, 2023. (KTLA)Standing by Stern’s side was Ariel Ein-Gal, a survivor of the deadly Hamas terror...