The Minority Person's Guide to Texas
You are cautioned against messing with Texas, but Texas has few qualms about messing with you. Particularly if you're a woman or a person of color or a married gay man or woman. We're here to help.
.You are cautioned against messing with Texas, but Texas has few qualms about messing with you. Particularly if you're a woman or a person of color or a married gay man or woman. So we've created this handy map for those less-empowered residents of the state. As of September 2014, you'll want to keep it with you.
Helpful information for: Women
When Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed into law the state's restrictive new abortion laws last July, he set in motion a plan that, by this time next year, might mean that the state only has six facilities in which a woman can get an abortion.
If you happen to live in Houston, you're in luck: two of the six are right in your city. If you happen to live in El Paso, however, you might want to check out New Mexico.
Use the map below to see where you can have the procedure performed!
Helpful information for: Gay members of the military
Earlier this week, the state's military branches, like the Texas National Guard, announced that they would not process benefits paperwork for married gay members of the military. Even though the Department of Defense mandates equal protection for members of the armed forces, Texas points to its constitutional ban on gay marriage and shakes its head no.
But don't worry! If you are a gay, married member of the military in Texas, you can still get your paperwork processed! You just need to head to one of the various federal military installations around the state and fill out the documents there. Don't forget to ask for the proper leave from your superior officer before that long drive.
Use the map below to see where your marriage is still considered a marriage!
Helpful information for: Latinos
Latino residents of the state of Texas are far more likely than non-Latinos to be unduly encumbered by the state's new voter ID law, which went into effect with the Supreme Court's rejection of the Voting Rights Act. But you don't have to take our word for the fact that the law disproportionately targets Latinos: the state says so itself.
In order to vote in the state next year, residents will need a state-issued ID. If you don't already have one, you don't have any choice but to head down to one of the state's 200-plus authorized drivers license centers and pick one up. They're on the map below. Be sure to bring all the documents you need with you. Good luck!
Use the map below to see where you can pick up your ID!
If you'd like all the data on one map, here you go. Data from: RHRealityCheck, Texas Department of Public Safety, Wikipedia.