Where Texas stands on LGBTQ+ rights

Texas can be a hostile state for LGBTQ+ rights even as the community celebrates Pride Month.

Why it matters: Texas, like Florida, has operated as a test kitchen for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that has spread to other states, according to Michael Rendon of the Human Rights Campaign in San Antonio. Texas passed four laws targeting LGBTQ+ rights last year.

• And the state led the nation in proposed anti-transgender legislation last year, even if few of those bills became law.

The big picture: Across the nation, significantly fewer anti-LGBTQ+ bills passed this year than were proposed, per data analysis from the Human Rights Campaign — signifying a slowdown from last year's boom.

Yes, but: The Texas Legislature will not meet this year.

However, the state's last session emboldened intolerance toward the LGBTQ+ community, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

State of play: In 2023, Gov. Greg Abbott signed four anti-LGBTQ+ bills into law, according to an ACLU tracker.

• Bans on gender-affirming care for children, transgender students in college sports, and certain drag shows all passed.
• A judge blocked the ban on some public drag shows, and the Texas Supreme Court is considering the gender-affirming care ban (it remains in effect for now).
• Texas has also cracked down on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at public universities.

• Republicans praised the laws, saying the ban on gender-affirming care protects children from misguided medical treatments that they will regret later.

Zoom in: Houston scored a 73 out of 100 from the Human Rights Campaign for ordinances and services that support LGBTQ+ people.

• The grade is based on things like local nondiscrimination protections, city employment policies and services, law enforcement hate crime reporting, and local leadership support.
• San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth all scored 100.

What we're watching: What Texas legislators choose to tackle in next year's legislative session, which starts in January.

• LGBTQ+ rights or restrictions were not on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's list of priorities this year.