Meet The Texas Lawmaker Fighting For Queer Youth (And Everyone Else)

It’s a watershed year fraught with turmoil for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Across the American South, queer, trans and gender-nonconforming people are facing wave after wave of legislation that threatens our safety, well-being and very existence. From “bathroom bills“ to ordinances that permit discrimination, this battle is in many ways a backlash to all of the victories our community has seen recently —including last year’s nation-wide legalization of same-sex marriage — and it serves a multitude of political and social purposes for the religious and political right. In this new series, HuffPost Queer Voices Deputy Editor JamesMichael Nichols, who hails from North Carolina himself, talks to some of the leaders, movers and shakers of the fight for queer and trans liberation in the South about their own personal experiences as activists, the current political and social climate for the LGBT community in these states and the action that we, as a community, can take to help. Check out the previous interviews Pamela Raintree, Councilwoman LaWana Mayfield, Joce Pritchett and Alvin McEwen. Courtesy of Rep Israel Celia Israel is a member of the Texas House of Representatives ― and a champion for the rights of the LGBTQ community in this influential part of the American South. With political roots in the administration of the legendary Gov. Ann Richards, Rep. Israel has been fighting for queer Texans ― and all disenfranchised individuals ― for decades. With Texas now facing the prospect of a North Carolina-esque backlash when it comes to the rights of transgender Americans, Rep. Israel remains a crucial voice for our community’s most vulnerable heading into the 2017 session of the Texas State House of Representatives ― and a Trump administration. In this interview with The Huffington Post, Rep. Israel reflects on her journey as an openly lesbian politician in Texas, the realities of life for LGBTQ Texans and how we, as a community, should face the unprecedented challenge of a Donald Trump/Mike Pence administration. The Huffington Post: For those unfamiliar with the work you’ve done in the Texas state legislature, tell us a bit about who you are. Rep. Israel: Well, I’ve been living in Austin for over 30 years but I’m from El Paso, Texas. I call myself an Ann Richards Democrat in that I feel like I can keep my sense of humor while I’m working on a whole array of issues. Since we’re in the minority party in Texas, it means if I’m going to do anything good for my constituents, I’ve got to build good relationships across the aisle to get things done. So I’m a pragmatic Ann Richards Democrat. How did you initially get started in politics? I worked for Governor Richards on her campaign in 1990 and we won the election in 1990, so I was in the Richards administration from ‘90 until ‘94. So it was a matter of volunteering that turned into a job that turned into a life-changing opportunity. What are some of the biggest challenges […]

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