Texas Legislature Debates LGBTQ Rights and Restrictions.
A bill seeking to repeal Texas' unconstitutional ban on gay sex failed to meet a critical deadline in the state's House of Representatives. The bill, HB 2055, had bipartisan support and was poised to be debated by the full chamber, but ran out of time to be considered. The state's sodomy ban has been unenforceable since 2003, but its continued existence on the books has enabled harassment and discrimination against the LGBTQ community. The bill's author, state Rep. Venton Jones, is one of the first openly gay and HIV-positive members of the Texas Legislature.