Community News
[city_news_7]
Texas bill banning DEI, LGBTQ clubs in schools heads to governor for signature
KERA | By Bill Zeeble Published June 3, 2025 at 11:29 AM CDT A bill banning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work in Texas’ K-12 schools is on its way to the governor’s desk. Senate Bill 12 bans DEI policies in hiring and training, bans student groups centered around gender identity and sexual orientation, and prohibits school employees from…
Texas may require medical records list patients’ sex assigned at birth
The bill, which is poised to become law, creates up to a $250,000 fine for medical professionals who change a patients’ listed sex outside of certain exemptions. By Ayden Runnels May 22, 20257 PM Central The Texas House on Thursday approved a bill requiring health agencies to create a new field in medical records for the…
Did Texas lawmakers do enough for children with disabilities? These child care advocates say no.
Lawmakers added $100 million to a child care scholarship program but failed to expand access to free preschool for children with disabilities. By Jess Huff June 23, 20255 AM Central LUFKIN — Texas lawmakers this year added $100 million to a scholarship fund to help families across the state pay for early child care, an extraordinary investment that…
Texas House votes to strictly define man and woman, excluding trans people from state records
If it becomes law, the bill would define sex based on reproductive organs and require state documents and policies to comply with that framework. By Eleanor Klibanoff May 10, 2025 Dozens of trans people and their allies gathered in the outdoor Capitol rotunda Friday, chanting at the top of their lungs. They will not erase us.…
Texas House sends bill that could increase cost of gender transition health care to governor’s desk
By Blaise Gainey Published May 13, 2025 at 5:38 AM CDT The Texas House passed a measure on Monday that opponents say could raise the price of gender-affirming health care for adults in Texas — or simply stop insurance providers from covering the care altogether. Since the bill was previously approved by the Texas Senate, it now…
Texas students say K-12 DEI ban and other anti-LGBTQ+ bills threaten their safety, voice and mental health
Students are concerned the legislation could silence supportive teachers, dismantle safe spaces, lead to overenforcement and prevent honest conversations about identity. By Sofia Sorochinskaia April 29, 2025 5 AM Central When Marshall Romero came out as a trans male in 2021, he didn’t think his identity would become a political issue. But in the years since,…
Paxton tries to revive Texas A&M drag show ban
Shafaq Patel Apr 1, 2025 Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an appeal Tuesday to reinstate Texas A&M’s drag show ban, aiming to reverse a federal judge’s temporary block. Catch up quick: A federal judge ruled on March 24 that Texas A&M’s ban on drag performances violated the First Amendment. State of play: Paxton’s appeal seeks to revive the ban, arguing that drag…
Rural providers, advocates push Texas Legislature to “rescue” maternal health care system
By ELEANOR KLIBANOFF/The Texas Tribune Updated 2:29 PM CST, December 3, 2024 Twenty five years ago, the Texas Legislature passed a sweeping set of reforms to resuscitate the state’s collapsing rural health care system. Now, health care providers, advocates and local leaders are proposing similarly aggressive action to pull the rural maternity care system back from…
Texas professors self-censor for fear of retaliation, survey found
By Kate McGee Published December 12, 2024 at 1:02 PM CST University professors across the political spectrum in Texas are preemptively self-censoring themselves for fear of damaging their reputations or losing their jobs, according to a new survey from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a First Amendment advocacy group. More than 6,200 professors from across…
Texas conservatives plan to further restrict trans lives this legislative session
Emboldened by the recent election, some Texas lawmakers are already filing bills that would dictate bathroom use, limit gender identity markers on documents and restrict funding for surgeries. By Eleanor Klibanoff Dec. 4, 2024 5AM Central Eight years ago, when conservative state lawmakers tried to restrict what bathrooms trans people could use, moderate Republicans quietly killed the…
Local Organizations
[city_organization_7]
Self Help for African People through Education - SHAPE is of the most visible and involved community centers in Houston’s African-American community and the Houston community as a whole. It has led the way toward justice, equal opportunity, and institution building in the city, state, nation and world. Because of its deep commitment to the community, SHAPE has actively sought ways to oppose injustice and to better the community for all people.
Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services - TEJAS is dedicated to providing community members with the tools necessary to create sustainable, environmentally healthy communities by educating individuals on health concerns and implications arising from environmental pollution, empowering individuals with an understanding of applicable environmental laws and regulations and promoting their enforcement, and offering community building skills and resources for effective community action and greater public participation.
Collective of Houston Asian Americans - CHAA is a collective of Asian American Queer Houstonians committed to intersectional work around our identities, our communities, and fellow communities of color.
Gender Infinity - Gender Infinity is an organization that creates affirming spaces for families, learners, advocates, and providers to advance relationships, knowledge, and resources that empower gender diverse individuals. They also host an annual conference.
The Metropolitan Organization -
South Texas Human Rights Center - STHRC is a community based organization dedicated to the promotion, protection, defense and exercise of human rights and dignity in South Texas. Our mission is to end death and suffering on the Texas/Mexico border through community initiatives.
Houston Area Women's Center - HAWC helps individuals affected by domestic and sexual violence in their efforts to move their lives forward. We provide shelter, counseling and advocacy to support them in building lives free from the effects of violence. We seek social change to end domestic and sexual violence through community awareness and education. Our services are confidential and available to everyone.
United Against Human Trafficking - UAHT was formed in 2005 as a volunteer coalition in response to the growing recognition and alarm over the prevalence of human trafficking in the Greater Houston area. The organization aspires for all people to experience freedom and live beyond bondage to others. They envision a world that is intolerant of buyers and sellers of human beings.
South West Alternate Media Project - SWAMP is a non-profit organization that encourages a diverse, multicultural community to create and appreciate film as an art form. Incorporated as a nonprofit media arts center in 1977, SWAMP is Houston’s premier creative resource for filmmakers and film lovers. SWAMP promotes film and new media through education, information, and presentation activities for all ages.
Daya - Daya supports South Asian women, their children and families who are trying to break the cycle of domestic and sexual violence and reclaim their lives. Daya empowers these women by offering counseling and advocacy, promoting community awareness, and by advocating at the policy level. Daya’s approach fosters individual freedom and respect leading to healthy families.
Air Alliance Houston - Our missions is to reduce the public health impacts from air pollution through research, education, and advocacy. Our vision is of a healthy communities with clean air every day for everyone. Our belief is that everyone has a right to breathe clean air and where you live, work, learn, and play should not determine your health.
Upcoming Events
2024 Symposium on Neurodiversity
The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma is excited to host Dr. Temple Grandin, alongside Tim Herbel, as the keynote speakers for the 2024 Emerson-Wier Liberal Arts Symposium focusing on neurodiversity, a derivative of our annual Speaker Series.
FREE Black History Month Through Film at Belle Isle Library
Features OETA’s documentaries that delve into black history in Oklahoma, from Langston University, which opened even before Oklahoma became a state, to the trailblazers of Oklahoma’s Civil Rights movement, such as Roscoe Dungee, Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher, and Clara Luper.
“The Fairytale Project”
A dance performance about the love between two African-American slaves and how they discover their roots in the free colonies of East Texas. It is both informative and moving.
UCLA Luskin Lecture: Barbara Ransby
Noted writer, historian and activist Barbara Ransby will explore the inter-institutional space of ideas and organizing, linking research and scholarship to communities and movement-based work.
Empower Run 2024
The Empower Run is a 3.1 mile long family-friendly race open to participants of all ages and abilities, including runners, walkers and strollers. Funds raised by the 2024 Empower Run will provide access to free representation and legal services to low-income survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and help secure #JusticeForSurvivors.
41st Upton Sinclair Celebration
In 2024, we’re looking forward to honoring the contributions of organizers and activists who are paving the way for social justice progress in Los Angeles—from fighting for the creation of a new Youth Development Department focused on care not punishment, to advocating for eviction protections for millions of struggling tenants—or securing a ban on toxic…
North Texas Food Bank – Pack & Box
Millions of meals are distributed through our programs and Feeding Network each year. Volunteers participating in the Pack and Box opportunity will work together in an assembly line to package the boxes/bags of food that are distributed to our neighbors through our programs and our Feeding Network. This opportunity is ideal for individuals or groups.…
Qigong For Peace
Join us for this 2-hour Live Webinar, Qigong For Peace, on Saturday, Feb. 10th, 2024. David J. Coon, will share Qigong Exercises, Guided Meditations to Experience Inner Peace, and a Medical Qigong Lecture on the benefits of a regular Qigong practice.
Comedy for Peace
Comedy for Peace is an incredible comedy show with Muslim and Jewish comedians, founded in March of 2019 in New York City. Comedy For Peace is an accessible, funny, fun, and meaningful show that brings diverse, Interfaith communities together with the belief that we can make a difference through the art of comedy.
Local Hero Spotlight
Members can nominate a local hero for recognition on their local LoveJustice.com city page!
Anyone and everyone can make an impact, and at LoveJustice we believe that they deserve to be recognized for their good, necessary work!
Recommend A Local Hero
Volunteering Opportunities
Houston in Action!
Featured Local Charities
