• About Us
  • Paper Locations
  • Contact
Hispanic News | Shirley Ann Flower Shop
Sunday, July 3, 2022
MEDIA KIT
African American News and Issues
63 °f
Houston
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Announcements
  • Afram TV
  • Events
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
African American News and Issues
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Announcements
  • Afram TV
  • Events
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
African American News and Issues
No Result
View All Result
Home African American News & Issues

LGBTQ+ Controversy

Chelsea Davis-Bibb by Chelsea Davis-Bibb
2 months ago
in African American News & Issues, Local, Politics
0
LGBTQ+ Controversy
76
SHARES
1.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedIn

By: Laisha Harris

You might also like

Change Your Lifestyle

Mental Health Is Everyone’s Problem

Freedom For America, But Not For Blacks

Recently, with Governor Abbot’s attack on women’s reproductive rights, nearly 30 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced to the Texas Senate and House. The proposed ban on youth participation in sports that align with their gender identity and ban on affirming healthcare for trans-gender youth were introduced but did not pass. The Religious exemption allows for lawyers, ordained ministers, and priests to refuse their services to LGBTQ+ individuals if based on a strong religious belief or moral objection. The Gender Marker prohibits minors from amending their birth certificate to match gender identity. The Religious Exemption and Gender Marker bills are still being discussed.

The City of Houston is known for attracting and embracing people of different backgrounds, culture, and shade. Kendria Holmes, who is from Third ward, knew her entire life she liked women. In elementary, she would see the way the school would divide students by gender and started to realize the differences. “I did what I had to do to fit in, but by eighth grade, I felt comfortable in speaking up for myself, and when I got to high school, I embraced it. At Challenge Early College, boys would wear skirts and the teachers encouraged us to be ourselves. We had straight/gay alliance organizations, we would host panels and events, but church and school were always different. Church couldn’t answer my questions. Religion doesn’t speak to the scientific part of why I feel different than I look.” While Holmes’ identity was affirmed in school, she could not be herself when church was involved.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution prohibits any state from embracing, favoring, inhibiting, or denying a religion, or preventing a person from exercising their religious belief. Throughout the years, the Supreme Court has decided that there is a wall of separation between the church and state. Schools cannot mandate prayer at the beginning of the school day and a government agency may not embrace or deny services based on a person’s religion.

Wayland Adams, born in Cleveland, Ohio, finds that Houston is more progressive and welcoming of diversity. “Now the laws? That’s a different story. From what I noticed, the leftist ideologies are based on religion and yet one of the fundamental rights from the First Amendment is the separation of church and state.” This separation became noticeable to Adams during the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Jackson. “They would ask her about her religious beliefs, but she would say that it is her responsibility to keep the church and the state separate. So, her religion cannot be used while she’s making decisions in the courthouse.” Adams says to honor the separation of church and state, the two cannot mingle when the state finds it convenient. “Science and data are one thing. Religion glorifies one life over another. It’s unfair to make decisions based off a religious belief for the whole of Texas rather than being religiously neutral in law-making.”

Holmes mentioned, “the people pushing these laws have their beliefs rooted in a religion, and those politicians are seeping their religion into the laws. Not to mention, Austin doesn’t reflect or represent the urban voices and urban areas such as Houston.” The representatives of Texas communities aren’t as diverse as Texas communities. With 2022 being a year for state-wide elections in Texas, we have an opportunity: fulfill our duty and vote for the candidate we desire. That way, when communities protest and demand change, we can say we tried it their way first.

Share30Tweet19
Chelsea Davis-Bibb

Chelsea Davis-Bibb

Recommended For You

Change Your Lifestyle

by Bobby E Mills, PhD
2 months ago
0
Change Your Lifestyle

Lifestyle represents value orientation. However, an individual must first understand who he/she is before you can understand others, and these spiritual words will help you understand that you...

Read more

Mental Health Is Everyone’s Problem

by Crystal LaShan
2 months ago
0
Mental Health Is Everyone’s Problem

HOUSTON-Many times, mental health is hard to recognize or identify. Since the pandemic started in 2020, our world has become more perceptive to the need to address mental...

Read more

Freedom For America, But Not For Blacks

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb
2 months ago
0
Freedom For America, But Not For Blacks

On July 4, 2022, millions of people across the United States, will be celebrating this day with drinks, foods, fireworks, events, family gatherings, and so much more. The...

Read more

Fort Bend ISD Communications Department wins national awards for outstanding communications and public relations programs

by aframnews
2 months ago
0

Fort Bend ISD – Fort Bend ISD’s communications team earned 11 National School Public Relations Association awards recognizing its excellence in producing various communications and public relations campaigns highlighting...

Read more

The Ensemble Theatre Presents the Young Performers Program A Fun & Creative Program for Youth Ages 6-17

by aframnews
2 months ago
0

HOUSTON, June 29, 2022—The Ensemble Theatre has resumed its beloved summer creative arts program, the Young Performers Program this summer!  The Young Performers Program is an arts focused summer enrichment program that...

Read more
Next Post

HBCUs: The Best Financial Payoff

Latest Articles

Change Your Lifestyle

Change Your Lifestyle

2 months ago
Mental Health Is Everyone’s Problem

Mental Health Is Everyone’s Problem

2 months ago
Freedom For America, But Not For Blacks

Freedom For America, But Not For Blacks

2 months ago

NEED PAST ISSUES?

Search our archive of past issues Receive our Latest Updates
* indicates required
  • Local
  • National
  • Community
  • Education
  • Politics
  • COVID-19
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports

ARTICLES

  • Local
  • National
  • Community
  • Education
  • Politics
  • COVID-19
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports

CONNECT WITH US

  • Home
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

  • Hispanic News
  • Shirley Ann’s Flower Shop
African American News and Issues

African American News & Issues
6130 Wheatley St
Houston, TX 77091
(713) 692-1892

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Copyright © 2022. African American News & Issues. All rights reserved. Private Policy | Terms of Use |

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Announcements
  • Events
  • Afram TV
  • Contact

Copyright © 2022. African American News & Issues. All rights reserved. Private Policy | Terms of Use |

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?