Beto O’Rourke Steps Up On LGBT Protections After Texas Governor Signs Bill Protecting Chick-fil-A

In a series of Tweets, Beto O’Rourke, the Texan Democratic presidential candidate, went after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who held a ceremony touting his signing of the “Save Chick-fil-A” bill, who said that discrimination is not tolerated in Texas.

Abbott surrounded himself with associates and Chick-fil-A menu items and vowed to protect religious liberty in response to criticism citing the fast food chain’s owner’s support for anti-gay groups and opposition to gay marriage.

“Discrimination is not tolerated in Texas. No business should be discriminated against simply because its owners pay to a church or the Salvation Army or any other religious organization,” Abbott said at the ceremonial signing. “No business should lose a government contract because of their religious beliefs. The ‘Save Chick-fil-A’ legislation that I’m about to sign is a victory for religious liberty in Texas.” 

O’Rourke quickly countered with some facts. “In Texas, you can be fired for being gay. You can be denied a home for being gay. You can be barred from adopting a child who needs a loving family because you’re gay. Discrimination is an urgent issue in our state. Discrimination against Chick-fil-A is not,” O’Rourke replied.

O’Rourke continued, “As president, I will sign into law The Equality Act, which would ban discrimination against all LGBTQ+ Americans in employment, housing, and access to public spaces—including in Texas. Chip in to support our grassroots campaign.”