The local tech incubator Tech Bloc said today it will oppose the key item on Gov. Greg Abbott's agenda for the upcoming special session, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
David Heard heads Tech Bloc, and he says the so called 'Bathroom Bill,' which would restrict access to public restrooms and school locker rooms to the gender on the individual's birth certificate, hurts the state's reputation as a tech industry powerhouse.
"It adds to the headwinds that we are already up against to try to build a strong tech economy and grow tech jobs across our state," Heard said.
Tech Bloc is the latest of innumerable business groups which have urged lawmakers to shoot down the bathroom bill. House Speaker Joe Straus has also come out against it, but Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leads the Texas Senate, are pushing strongly for it, claiming it will protect women and girls from sexual predators who would enter women's restrooms by falsely claiming to be transgender.
Opponents say the number of restroom assaults is miniscule, and this bill would do nothing to stop them, barring a monitor standing at the door of every public restroom checking birth certificates as people enter.
Visit San Antonio says nearly a dozen major conventions are considering pulling out of Texas and several already have announced plans to meet elsewhere, because the bill is simply being considered in the Legislature.
"We have measures the results in places that have tried legislation like this," Heard said, referring to claims by social conservatives that the claims being made by opponents are 'false' and 'fake news.'
"It does have an impact, and it's big."Heard said the bill, by accomplishing nothing, would send a message of 'intolerance' to tech corporate leaders at a time when diversity in the work force is extremly critical to the industry.
"This would lead to millions of dollars in lost jobs and opportunity, from the tourism industry to lost jobs, you name it."