Messing with Texas

Traditional Texas football is smash-mouth, not powder-puff, and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) plays rough. The 350-pound gay lobby group is applying economic and political pressure as the Texas legislature prepares to vote next week on bills protecting religious liberty.

The HRC website declares:

“Major companies—including major Texas employers like PepsiCo, parent company of Frito Lay, and American Airlines—have made it abundantly clear that these anti-LGBT bills undermine their core values and set dangerous precedents that stifle investment and economic growth.”

HRC for years has brilliantly pressured corporations to change, and now it’s parlaying that into the threat: Do it our way or face boycotts.

Here’s more threat:

“Over 130 technology leaders—including titans of the industry from Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Verizon, AT&T, and many, many more—have also taken the unprecedented stance of calling for an end to the anti-LGBT legislation in Texas and around the country.”

And more:

“Texas lawmakers should take careful note of the political and business fallout in Indiana over anti-LGBT legislation signed into law by Gov. Mike Pence. In a recent case study, HRC showcased a poll revealing that a stunning 75 percent of Hoosiers report that Gov. Pence’s push for the anti-LGBT ‘religious refusal’ bill has damaged Indiana’s business climate.

“It also showed how the political environment has deteriorated significantly for Gov. Pence. More Hoosiers now think the state is on the ‘wrong track’ than on the ‘right track’—his personal approval ratings have plummeted—and he’s now tied with a potential Democratic challenger in a state that President Obama lost by 10 points in 2012. Fifty-three percent of likely voters said the debate left them with a less favorable opinion of Pence.”

Many of those disillusioned-about-Pence voters, of course, are Christians opposed to Indiana’s surrender to gay pressure—but HRC doesn’t mention that. The political threats may not work in Texas. The economic pressure might. The gay lobby has marched the ball down the field. Will Texas legislators succeed in a goal-line defense?