The Texas Legislature is currently meeting in special session. Among other items on the agenda will be Texas’ version of a discriminatory “bathroom bill” aimed at transgender people. Almost all major corporations in the state have come out in opposition to the proposed law, fearing difficulty in recruiting employees and in keeping customers. But none appear to be making the all out effort that IBM is.
In an internal memo sent Monday to thousands of employees around the world, IBM's human resources chief outlined the New York-based company's opposition to what the letter described as discriminatory proposals to regulate bathroom use for transgender Texans. IBM sent the letter to employees the same day it dispatched nearly 20 top executives to the Lone Star State to lobby lawmakers at the state Capitol. A day earlier, it took out full-page ads in major Texas newspapers underlining its opposition to legislation that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and a cadre of far-right lawmakers have deemed a top priority.
IBM appears to be directing much of their effort at House Speaker Joe Straus, who has already expressed his opposition on both business and moral grounds. IBM’s CEO placed a phone call to Straus last week, and top executives will be meeting with the Speaker personally this week.
In a recent interview, Diane Gherson, Senior Vice-President for Human Resources, said that the mere threat of such a bill passing is already causing problems for the company in recruitment and in getting people to transfer to Texas. She also said that if such a bill passes, the company, which employs 10,000 Texans, would “reconsider its commitment” to the state.
This legislation died during the regular session due to the opposition of Straus and other business-oriented Republicans. But Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who presides over the state Senate, heads a group of religious fanatics who are willing to force the state to pay any price for their bigoted agenda.
If you live in Texas, please consider contacting your legislators and let them know how you feel about this bill. And please contact Speaker Straus to thank him for taking the high road and urge him to stay strong. Contact information for the Speaker can be found here.
Hopefully, IBM’s major effort, constituent pressure, and Straus’ strong opposition will be enough to kill this hateful legislation once and for all.