; Whereas, between 2017 and 2021, nine trans women were brutally murdered in Dallas; Whereas the transgender community in Texas continues to face additional barriers compared to others on issues of health care and housing; Whereas, in 2019, the Texas legislature formed its first LGBT Caucus with five LGBTQI+ women, and was chaired by Texas State Representative Mary Gonzalez; Whereas, in 2022, several Texas cities, including Leander, Round Rock, Pflugerville and Lockhart, held their first public LGBTQI+ Pride events in the state’s history; Whereas Texas cities such as Franklin, Houston, Forth Worth, Dallas, San Antonio, Galveston, San Marcos, McAllen, El Paso, Lubbock, Waco, Corpus Christi, Abilene, Laredo, Tyler, and countless others all have scheduled LGBTQI+ Pride celebrations in 2023; Whereas Texas is home to roughly 1.8 million individuals identifying as members of the LGBTQI+ community; Whereas Texas State Code V.T.C.A. 85.007 continues to discriminate against the LGBTQI+ community requiring that materials in the education programs intended for persons younger than 18 years of age must . . . state that homosexual conduct is not an acceptable lifestyle and is a criminal offense under Section 21.06, Penal Code ; Whereas the Texas Constitution discriminates against the LGBTQI community, recognizing that marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman ; Whereas there are currently no Texas State laws to protect against LGBTQIA+ discrimination in family services, housing, banking, public accommodations, health care, and education; and Whereas public opinion polls find that a majority of Americans support same-sex marriage and support implementing anti-discrimination laws based on sexual orientation: Now, therefore, be it