Houston PD assures prioritizing LGBTQ community as Texas wins anti-discrimination challenge

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The timing of Thursday night's scheduled Houston police safety seminar for the city's LGBTQIA+ community was hard to ignore.

The event, which was hosted by the department's liaison to that community, featured Chief Troy Finner and members belonging to HPD divisions like victim services, hate crimes, homicide, and community affairs.

Unfortunately for those in attendance, a political cloud hung over the proceedings.

As reported by our partners at the Houston Chronicle, a federal judge recently ruled in favor of Texas' challenge to the Biden administration's guidance on anti-discrimination practices concerning LGBTQ employees.

What does this mean? The ruling exposes LGBTQ workers to termination for the way they dress, their pronouns, or the bathroom they use - everything that the Biden guidance aimed at stopping.

The U.S. Justice Department may appeal.

As for the evening's event, those in attendance, particularly the transgender community, voiced a concern that they've long held for years - the feeling of their problems being ignored or not taken seriously.

Rebecca Chapa says she's a victim of a crime and was afraid to speak up and be taken seriously until she met with liaisons with HPD who helped her feel comfortable.

"They're going to be there for you because you're a victim, and that's the most important part being a victim and speaking up so we can get these crimes solved," Chapa said.

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