Today, Texas Values Action released survey results that continue to demonstrate an overwhelming number of Republican voters support legislative efforts to protect privacy. In addition, a majority of Republican House members are now co-authors for HB 46, the House version of the Texas Privacy Act.

Nearly 80 percent (78.9 percent) of those surveyed back a bill to prevent local governments from allowing men into little girls’ showers, restrooms, and changing areas. An even higher percentage (84.7 percent) responded that boys who claim they are girls should be not allowed to use girls’ intimate facilities in public schools. Furthermore, the survey found that support for the privacy legislation among Texas Republicans will be a major issue in future voting decisions. About 79 percent indicated they would not vote to re-elect a Legislator that supports allowing men in women’s intimate facilities, and 64.5 percent responded privacy is an important issue in determining their ballot decisions.

“Chairman Byron Cook and Speaker Joe Straus are apparently okay with men entering girls showers and bathrooms, as they have gone rogue by blocking critical privacy legislation on this issue. Chairman Cook and Straus are standing with LGBT groups instead of an overwhelming majority of Republican voters and the Republican Party of Texas, on the privacy issue, said Jonathan Saenz, President of Texas Values Action. “This survey confirms what we’ve known all along – that a majority of Republicans are in favor protecting privacy in our showers, locker rooms, and changing areas. It’s time to stop making excuses and pass this bill before school starts for millions of Texas public school students!”

The survey was conducted Aug. 7-8 among 1,519 recent and recurring Texas Republican primary voters. See more detailed survey results. The survey is more evidence of the growing support for the privacy issue in Texas.

• Today, national Anglican Church leaders released a letter of support for Texas privacy legislation.
• More business leaders added their names today to the growing list of business support for privacy.
• Last week a group of business leaders released a letter of support for privacy legislation.
• Nearly 1,000 Texas pastors released a letter of support for privacy legislation on Aug. 3.
• Collectively the reach/support of privacy legislation supporters is over 1 million.
• Thousands of Texans have testified in support of privacy at local government hearings in the following metro areas: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, as well as rural areas.
• A bipartisan majority of Senators and a majority of House Republicans support privacy legislation.
• The only time Texans have been allowed to vote on the issue, 157,110 Houstonians (61%) voted against allowing men in little girls’ restrooms (2015).

The following leaders and entities have also voiced their support for Texas privacy legislation; Dana Hodges (CWA of Texas), Trayce Bradford (Texas Eagle Forum); JoAnn Fleming (Grassroots America We The People); Dave Welch, Texas Pastor Council; Cindy Asmussen (Southern Baptist of Texas); Kaeley Triller Haver, Hands Across the Aisle; Coalition of African American Pastors; Hispanic Action Pastor Network; Texas Right to Life; Texas Home School Coalition; San Antonio Family Association, Stand for Fort Worth; Vision America; Family Research Council; Family Policy Alliance; Northeast Tarrant Tea Party; Center for the Preservation of American Ideals; Empower Texans; Drippings Springs ISD parents; and many more.

More details on the Texas Privacy Act, including videos, testimonies, press releases, and fact sheets, may be found at http://www.txvalues.org/protectprivacy

About Texas Values Action

Texas Values Action is the 501(c)(4) advocacy arm of Texas Values, a non-profit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvaluesaction.org.