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Texas Governor Has Signed the 'Save Chick-fil-A Bill' Into Law

Greg Abbott
Texas Governor Greg Abbott

The legislation prevents state and local governments from "punishing" businesses because of their donations to faith-based groups, including anti-LGBTQ ones.

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed into law what's been dubbed the "Save Chick-fil-A Bill."

The legislation prohibits the state and its cities and counties from punishing individuals or businesses because of their membership in or donations to religious organizations, including anti-LGBTQ ones.

It's aimed at preventing situations like the one that occurred a few months ago in San Antonio, where the City Council voted not to allow a Chick-fil-A restaurant in the local airport because of the company's donations to anti-LGBTQ organizations.

The bill was almost killed in the Texas House of Representatives early in May when out Rep. Julie Johnson used a procedural move to keep it from coming up for debate by the deadline for considering House-originated legislation. But the House could still consider bills that originated in the Senate, so Senate fast-tracked its version, held a hearing with no notice and no witnesses, and passed it, then sent it to the House, which approved it as well.

The signature by Abbott, who has a long and strong anti-LGBTQ record, was expected, especially given that he sent this tweet:

LGBTQ rights group Equality Texas denounced the legislation, calling it an "anti-LGBTQ dog whistle." It does not materially change Texas law, the group emphasized, but it does send the message that homophobic and transphobic views deserve protection.

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.