Movement consevtives in the Texas Legislature downplayed suggestions during the 2017 that the so called 'bathroom bill,' which limited transgender use of public restrooms, might damage the state's business climate, but an effort is now underway to use the 'bathroom bill' and other measures that are seen as limiting LGBT rights, as a way to stop Texas from winning the biggest economic prize of the decade, the planned 'second headquarters' of the giant on line retailer Amazon, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The expansion, labeled HQ2, is expected to mean 20,000 jobs and a massive economic boost to the city that wins the competition to host it. Austin and Dallas are among the finalists for HQ2.
But an LGBT activist group called 'No Gay? No Way!' has filed a Freedom of Information act request to receive e-mails and other communications between Republican lawmakers and traditional values groups during the 2017 session, seeking to show that the 'bathroom bill,' which failed, as well as a measure to allow religious based adoption agencies to refuse to place children with same sex couples, is part of an 'anti LGBT agenda' among the state's Republican political establishment that goes against Amazon's culture of 'openness and diversity.'
“Anti-gay activists are wielding their influence in state capitals across the country, coordinating with public officials, and shepherding harmful policies that hurt LGBT citizens,” NGNW attorney Roberta Kaplan said. “We look forward to reviewing this correspondence and other public records to illuminate those who are using their power and connections to pass laws, or keep them in place, to demean local LGBT populations.”
NGNW is also using the same tactic to try to prevent HQ2 from locating in North Carolina. That state approved a similar 'bathroom bill' in 2016 which supporters of the Texas proposal pointed to frequently as evidence that such measures do not result in damage to a local economy.
Spurred by the NGNW effort, The Washington Post reported on April 20 that Amazon “has quietly made rights for and acceptance of gay and transgender people part of its criteria in choosing a second headquarters.”
NGNW plans to present the results of its investigation into Texas' attitudes toward LGBT citizens at Amazon's annual meeting later this month.Amazon has said that 'diversity and inclusion' are critical to its operations.
Tech companies were particularly vocal against the bathroom bill in last year's session, pointing out that respect for LGBT rights are particularly important for the Millennial tech workers the companies will try to lure to Texas operations.