1. Observe and enforce laws of equal opportunity, protection and anti-discrimination, including state and federal Hate Crimes Acts, with accurate record keeping, law enforcement training, and analysis of the data generated; and state and federal disability rights laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, as newly amended (2009).

2. Support legislation to:

• Prohibit employment discrimination against gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered individuals on the basis of sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity.

• Prohibit discrimination against or harassment of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgendered students or teachers in Texas public schools on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity.

• Provide, with proper best interests of the child criteria, heterosexual foster and adoptive parental rights to gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgendered foster or adoptive parents.

• Provide the same benefits to the domestic partners of gay and lesbian State employees that the State provides to its married employees.

3. Oppose legislation that would prohibit private employers from offering benefits to same sex couples.  The Texas Constitutional Marriage Amendment does not prevent such benefits. By its nonsensical wording, it purports to ban all marriage.

4. Add gender identity and expression to the James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Act.

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