Blogs
What is the Law in Texas Regarding Discrimination Against LGBT Adoptive Parents?
A few years ago, Texas finally caught up with many other states in the country by legalizing same-sex marriage. And, while it seemed like a giant victory for the LGBT community in Houston, it didn’t mean the end for discrimination against would-be LGBT parents. Adoption agencies have always been less willing to help LGBT couples…
Read MoreCan I Adopt My Partner’s Biological Child in Houston?
For LGBT couples, having children the old-fashioned way isn’t really an option. If they want to start a family, they have to look at the alternatives – adoption, in vitro fertilization or surrogacy. The most common way to start a family for LGBT couples is adoption. Typically, they consider the traditional route, using a domestic…
Read MoreLGBT Attorneys in Houston Can Help Overcome Challenges to Gay Adoptions
There are so many children out there who would benefit from a loving family. Yet when great candidates apply for adoptions, they’re turned down. Adoption agencies come up with all sorts of reasons why gay couples shouldn’t be approved to adopt a child. What it really comes down to is pervasive discrimination by adoption agencies against…
Read MoreHow Can You Change Your Name as a Transgender Person?
Once you’ve identified as transgender, the next logical thing is to change your name. Your name is a big part of your identity. It’s important that you be able to identify the way you want. Thankfully, the process to legally change your name in Texas is not that complicated. Although the process itself isn’t all…
Read MoreWhat Does the Ruling in the Wittmer v Phillips Case Mean for LGBT People in Texas?
Nicole Wittmer had applied for a job with a company called Phillips 66. She was offered the job but when her employer found out she was transgender, they withdrew their offer. Wittmer sued under Title VII claiming that she was discriminated against based on her being transgender. Wittmer filed suit in the Southern District of…
Read MoreWhat is a Second-Parent Adoption in Texas?
When it comes to marriage and adoption for LGBTQ+ couples in Texas, things can become very complicated. It wasn’t until almost two (2) years ago that Texas finally legalized same-sex marriage. So, once a couple is married, how do they go about starting a family? Obviously, an LGBTQ+ couple can’t have their own biological children.…
Read MoreCan a School Fire You for Being LGBT in Houston, Texas?
Believe it or not, a majority of the states still have no laws protecting LGBT members from discrimination in the workplace. Sadly, Texas is one of them. While some bills have been passed in the last few years that protect some LGBT rights, there is still no widespread protection in Texas. This means that, legally,…
Read MoreCan Transgender Student Athletes Compete in Texas?
There is a lot of debate right now about transgender student athletes. A lot of states allow these athletes the right to compete under their current gender. So, if a male identifies as a female, they can compete with other females. This has garnered a lot of heated discussions. People think it’s unfair that male,…
Read MoreHow Will the Religious Belief Bill Affect Members of the LGBT Community?
In April of this year, Texas passed a religious belief bill that allows state-licensed workers to deny services to people based on “sincerely held religious beliefs.” The law protects workers such as doctors, teachers and counselors. This law essentially allows licensed professionals to deny service to anyone, based on their religious beliefs. The law doesn’t…
Read MoreCan LGBTQ+ Couples Complete a Pre-Nuptial Agreement in Texas?
If you and your LGBTQ+ partner are considering getting married, you may want to consider a pre-nuptial agreement. This is especially true if either of you has significant debts or assets. Once you get married, there’s no way to protect yourselves in the marriage. In the event of divorce, your assets and debts will be…
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