15 Mar Texas LGBTQ Chambers of Commerce Praise the Filing of New Comprehensive Non-Discrimination State Legislation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Angela Hale, Texas LGBTQ Chambers of Commerce, 512.289.2995 angela@redmediagroup.com
The Texas LGBTQ Chambers of Commerce Praise the Filing of New Comprehensive Non-Discrimination State Legislation to Ensure Equality for LGBTQ Texans
Study by Leading Texas Economist Shows LGBTQ Nondiscrimination Would Create Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs, Billions in Tax Revenues, Significant Economic Growth
Austin, Texas – March 12, 2021- The Texas LGBTQ Chambers of Commerce, a statewide organization of LGBTQ Chambers of Commerce today praised the filing of new modern legislation that will pro-actively protect the LGBTQ community and ensure that every single Texan, including LGBTQ Texans will be treated equally under Texas law. HB 3860 authored by Texas Representative Jessica González and SB 1540 by Senator Jose Menéndez will extend non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
“The only way to achieve the freedom for LGBTQ people to live, work, earn a living, raise our families, and contribute fully to our communities is to pass a comprehensive, statewide nondiscrimination law that protects all people, including LGBTQ people,” said Tony Vedda, CEO of North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce
“Currently, Texas is one of 27 states where there are no protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Texans can get married on Sunday and the very next day get kicked out of a restaurant or evicted from their apartment or turned down for a lease because of who they are or who they love. State legislation will guarantee explicit, permanent protections for LGBTQ people,” said Tammi Wallace, Co-founder & CEO of the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
A first-of-its-kind study by renowned Texas economist Dr. Ray Perryman, commissioned by Texas Competes, the business coalition of Equality Texas shows the expected economic impacts of a statewide, comprehensive nondiscrimination law covering employment, housing, and public spaces for LGBTQ Texans and visitors. The Perryman Group found that in the first biennium, such a law would create $1.3 billion in cumulative state and local tax revenues, and in the 2021-2045 period, it would create 700,000 new Texas jobs, more than $1.3 trillion in gross product, and $130 billion in tax revenues for state and local governments.
“Texas is one of the best states to do business. If we want to escalate our competitive advantage into the future, our research shows significant benefits from enactment of a comprehensive nondiscrimination law that includes all people, including LGBTQ people,” said Dr. Ray Perryman, CEO of The Perryman Group, an economic analysis firm based in Waco, Texas. “Our analysis found enormous, untapped economic potential for our state if LGBTQ people were protected from discrimination based on who they are.”
“The good news is that 70% of Texans – including majorities in both parties and all major religious groups – already support the idea of nondiscrimination protections for their LGBTQ neighbors, coworkers, family members, and friends,” said Tina Grider-Cannon, CEO of the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce “Dr. Perryman’s work shows us that such a policy is crucial to the future competitiveness of the state, and that it would deliver tangible benefits to all Texans.”
“The San Antonio LGBT Chamber of Commerce and our statewide LGBTQ Chamber coalition are proud to work with San Antonio’s Senator Jose Menéndez and Dallas Texas Representative Jessica González on a comprehensive non-discrimination bill that will provide consistent and explicit anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people across key areas of life,” said Melissa Ochoa, San Antonio LGBT Chamber of Commerce Board President
Topline study findings show that a 2021 statewide nondiscrimination policy would result in:
By 2025
- $20 billion in annual Gross Product
- 180,000 new jobs
- $2.8 billion in state tax receipts and $2 billion to local governments
By 2045
- $105 billion in annual Gross Product
- 700,000 new jobs
- $74 billion in state tax receipts and $56 billion to local governments
Link to Perryman Study
About the Texas LGBTQ Chambers of Commerce:
Texas LGBTQ Chambers is a coalition of the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce, North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and San Antonio LGBT Chamber of Commerce. We work to achieve equality and inclusion by promoting economic vitality in our communities and strengthening LGBTQ and ally businesses. The 1,000+ LGBTQ and Allied businesses of the Chambers speak with one voice. We call upon our local elected representatives to introduce or support legislation that supports diversity in the workplace and opposes discrimination. We know, in Texas, when business thrives, people prosper. For this to happen, all Texans must be included and respected.
Learn more at https://TexasLGBTQChambers.com
Additional Media Contacts
Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Tina Cannon, 512-761-5428, tcannon@austinlgbtchamber.com
Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Tammi Wallace, 713-301-2266; tammi.wallace@houstonlgbtchamber.com
North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Waylon Tate, 214-613-0073, waylon@jwaylon.com
San Antonio LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Melissa Ochoa, 210-504-9429, president@salgbtchamber.org