Texas Freedom Network

We're #hiring a Regional Program Coordinator for our Texas Rising program based in Ediburg. Apply today or share this post with your network.

“Christ’s whole message was about love and mercy and trust and dignity, not control and condemnation and hate and legal power. The Bible is a profoundly liberating story.” - The Rev. Hannah Atkins Romero of Trinity Episcopal Church in Houston, a Just Texas Reproductive Freedom Congregation (RFC) As the aggressive, Trump-fueled Christian right threatens the line between church and state around the country, a growing community of Christians are standing up and speaking out against it in Texas.

On Tuesday, Sept. 10, the State Board of Education (SBOE) heard public testimony on the state’s new, Bible-infused elementary school reading curriculum. An overwhelming majority of the 100+ parents, grandparents, educators, and advocates who testified showed strong opposition, urging the board to reject the materials. It was a powerful showing for the religious freedom of Texas students! ✊ Now, will the conservative-dominated SBOE do their duty as elected officials and actually listen to the will of their constituents? We’ll have to see. TFN is here to bring you the highlights (and lowlights) with your SBOE Rundown.

"I have a lot of hope. I’ve got a lot of hope for Texas." TFN was honored to sit down with Texas State Senator Molly Cook (she/her), the first out LGBTQIA+ member of the Texas Senate and currently its youngest serving member. We discussed her background, the issue areas that are most important to her and her community, and advice for other young Texans considering running for office.

An executive order signed by Gov. Greg Abbott Thursday afternoon requires hospitals to start tracking the immigration status of patients by Nov. 1. Hospitals will also have to track how much money they spend on care for undocumented immigrants. TFN's Imelda Mejia speaks on how this policy will further discourage immigrant families who already struggle to access the care they need.

"One of my family members had to put their insulin in a cooler with half-frozen FRIO ice packs to try to keep the insulin cool; insulin has to be refrigerated until ready for use. He has Type 1 diabetes and literally cannot live without insulin.” – Gracie Israel, Texas Rising North Houston Regional Program Coordinator The recent impacts from Hurricane Beryl left Houstonians suffering for prolonged days after the storm had passed. As one of the millions of Houstonians who suffered from the devastating consequences of our failing grid multiple times in the past several years, Texas Rising's Gracie Israel explores the causes behind our energy grid, its impact on Houstonians, and the need for reform.

Texas Freedom Network President Val Benavidez today warned that Texas education officials are attempting to hide how right-wing operatives and politicians appointed to a key advisory panel are shaping new state-developed education materials for public schools. "The bottom line is that instead of looking for help primarily from nonpolitical educators and researchers working in our state’s world-class universities, the commissioner is farming out the education of Texas kids to people who favor political agendas over teaching our kids the truth," Benavidez said. Read more at the link.

"If we invest in our children, and all children, then the democratic society we share can continue to flourish. Parenting can be difficult, and so can democracy, but we must strive each day to get it right.” For National Parents' Day yesterday, Bryan J. Henry, founder of Cypress Families for Public Schools, wrote a guest piece for our blog urging us to reclaim the true meaning of parental rights. Read it below.

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade through their ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, creating a treacherous patchwork of state and local laws criminalizing abortion. Research confirms what we have always known: The majority of voters believe we deserve freedom over our own bodies and futures through access to abortion care. Read our blog highlighting PerryUndem's recent study analyzing abortion opinions in a post-Dobbs world.

We're #hiring a Campus Organizer for our Texas Rising program based in Waco. Apply today or share this post with your network.