Dozens of celebrities from the arts, music, and the movies today wrote an 'open letter to the people of Texas' urging that state lawmakers defeat that 'bathroom bill,' which would limit public and school restroom use to the gender on the person's birth certificate, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The signatories range from local artists like the band Girl in a Coma to prominent international figures like Lady Gaga and Jimmy Kimmel."Texas Senate Bill 6 would criminalize and restrict the simple act of a transgender person using the restroom that aligns with their gender identity, a denial of basic human dignity," the letter reads. "Transgender and gender non-confirming young people are already subjected to bullying and harassment. Can you imagine the message these bills send to children, the message of 'that child is unwelcome, that child is dangerous'."
The celebrity letter repeatedly praises the state of Texas and its people, and does not threaten that the signers will stop performing in the state. But it does say they want to perform where 'our fans, crews and fellow artists feel safe and welcome.'
To those who think that celebrities should 'shut up and sing,' a message that was sent to Dixie Chick Natalie Maines (who is one of the people who signed this letter) when she criticized George W. Bush back in the 2000s, the signers reply 'artistic expression has already been a political act, and some of the most venerated artists in our history have put themselves on the line to take a stand against injustice.'
The so called 'bathroom bill,' is a top priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, but it has been downplayed by House Speaker Joe Straus.
On 'The Glenn Beck Show' today, Gov. Abbott blasted the NFL for threatening to pull future events from the state if the bill passes.Patrick has called threats against Texas due to the bathroom bill 'extortion,' asking whether celebrities and sports leagues will start threatening the state if 'we don't raise taxes, or repeal Campus Carry?'
READ THE LETTER: https://www.txtogether.org/
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