Chamber Joins as Plaintiff in Lawsuit Challenging Drag Ban Law

“SB 12 imposes unprecedented restrictions for our members including small businesses and nonprofits and jeopardizes their revenue and impacts their operations.”

HOUSTON, TX (August 4, 2023) – The Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce has joined the lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 12 (SB12), the “Drag Ban Bill” as a plaintiff.  The lawsuit was filed by the Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) on behalf of plaintiffs including the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce, other Texas LGBT Chambers, VORTEX Repertory Company and individual performers.

SB12 is a discriminatory measure targeting LGBTQ+ Texans that violates the civil rights and freedoms of every Texan to express themselves through performance.

The law will go into effect on September 1, 2023.  This bill’s enforcement is a blatant attempt to make drag a crime when performed in front of a minor, punishable by fines of up to $10,000 for each violation.  The law’s vague language provides the opportunity to not only punish and criminalize drag performances, but theatre productions, cheerleaders, concerts, and other entertainment that may be considered sexually oriented.

“SB 12 imposes unprecedented restrictions for our members including small businesses and nonprofits and jeopardizes their revenue and impacts their operations. The law creates extreme burdens for our members on top of the challenges of running their day-to-day operations,” said Tammi Wallace, Co-Founder, President & CEO of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “We are spending valuable time and resources educating our members and the community about the severe consequences of this law, which is impacting our ability and opportunity to help small businesses and promote the Chamber’s mission focused on LGBTQ+ economic inclusion.”

This law has the ability to affect a number of industries, performers, and businesses - and will have a significant impact on how they generate revenue. Businesses that support these performances while in the presence of a minor, could face severe fines that could harm their ability to make money and operate regularly. It also leaves a clear path for business services to outright discriminate against these venues - for example, denying insurance coverage to the business owner.

Drag is not a crime. This law must be overturned to ensure that all Texans have the right to express themselves. 

“The free expression of the LGBTQ+ community has always been targeted by those in power. SB12 is no different from old discriminatory laws that used to criminalize women who wore pants,” said Dustin Rynders (he/him), Criminal Injustice Program Director at the Texas Civil Rights Project. “But despite what some Texas politicians believe, we know that drag is not a crime.”

The Chamber, in collaboration with the Texas Civil Rights Project, will host a Know Your Rights Session to educate members and the community about this law and what it means for businesses, nonprofits and individual performers. The event will be held at KIKI, 2409 Grant Street, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on August 21^st.  Participants do not have to be a Chamber member to attend.

The Chamber is fighting this law because the state government does not have the authority to strip its citizens of these fundamental rights - and we deserve to live in a Texas that allows people to be themselves. Our members deserve the right to run their businesses without fear of unwarranted repercussions because of a baseless law.

The right for people to live, work, or perform authentically is something we are all entitled to, Texans should feel safe in our communities or places of business, and this law only emboldens harassment and hate. 

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About the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce accelerates economic opportunity for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer + (LGBTQ+) business community through a strong network of business allies, innovative programs, strategic partnerships and advance policies that foster economic inclusion and equality.  Visit www.houstonlgbtchamber.com to learn more about the Chamber.

About the Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP)

The Texas Civil Rights Project is boldly serving the movement for equality and justice in and out of the courts. We use our tools of litigation and legal advocacy to protect and advance the civil rights of everyone in Texas, and we partner with communities across the state to serve the rising movement for social justice. We undertake our work with a vision of a Texas in which all communities can thrive with dignity, justice and without fear. Visit www.txcivilrights.org to learn more about TCRP.