Members of the Fort Worth arts community sent a letter on Aug. 15 to Texas House Speaker Joe Straus expressing opposition to any legislation “that would discriminate against any person or group based on gender identity or sexual orientation.”
Here is the text of the letter:
August 15, 2017
The Honorable Joe Straus
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
Room 2W.13
State Capitol
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Dear Speaker Straus:
As members and leaders of Fort Worth and Tarrant County’s strong and diverse arts and cultural community, we are writing to express our intense opposition to any legislation that would discriminate against any person or group based on gender identity or sexual orientation or limit the ability of Texas cities to provide anti-discrimination protections in their communities.
Arts and culture are part of the fabric that make a community diverse, strong, creative and
collaborative. The multiple so-called “bathroom bill” laws target and create fear against people
who are different, a cornerstone of discrimination. Recently, local law enforcement leaders from across the state have spoken out against any “bathroom bill” laws stating “there’s no need for this legislation.”
Discriminatory laws will also have a negative impact on the thriving business of arts and culture
in Fort Worth. We know from our industry peers in North Carolina that this type of legislation
can have a devastating economic impact on the availability of bringing world-class artists and
shows to Texas, resulting in a loss of tourism revenue, a reduction in local arts-related jobs, and
ultimately creating a significant negative economic impact for Fort Worth.
Fort Worth has a strong, anti-discrimination ordinance that legally prevents discrimination based on race, sex, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity. Fort Worth continues to see strong economic and cultural growth as a result of being a city that welcomes and embraces everyone.
Discriminatory laws would have a crushing effect on the local arts community, businesses and
the state of Texas.
Please, join us in saying NO to any legislation that promotes discrimination in our city and state.
The Fort Worth and Tarrant County arts community believes strongly in open and accepting
accommodations for everyone.
Sincerely,
Amphibian Stage Productions
Kathleen Culebro, Artistic Director
Arts Council of Fort Worth
Karen Wiley, President
Circle Theatre
Tim Long, Managing Director
Fort Worth Opera
Tuomas Hiltunen, General Director
Four Day Weekend
David Ahearn, Co-Founder
I
ATSE Local 126
Molly Faulk, President
Dee Dee Freeman, Business Agent
Jubilee Theatre
Christie M. Howard, Managing Director
Kids Who Care Inc.
Deborah Jung, Founder and Executive Director
Performing Arts Fort Worth/Bass Performance Hall
Dione Kennedy, President & CEO
SceneShop
Steven A. McGaw, Artistic Director
Stage West Theatre
Dana Schultes, Executive Producer
Texas Ballet Theater
Vanessa Logan, Executive Director
The Live Theatre League of Tarrant County
Lisa Loving Dalton, President
Theatre Arlington
Valerie Galloway, Executive Director