Texas Senate Takes on Transgender Rights and Protections.
GOP activist and donor Steven Hotze was removed from a Texas Senate committee hearing after he repeatedly referred to transgender people and their supporters as pedophiles. Hotze, who is facing felony criminal charges related to a privately funded voter-fraud inquiry, had been testifying in favor of four bills targeting transgender youth and adults. Most major medical associations classify transition care as medically necessary. The bills were left pending Thursday and, if passed, would move on to the full Senate for a vote, then to the Texas House.