Press Release: War on Christmas Update – Merry Christmas Texas Project Protects Religious Freedom in Texas Public Schools and More
Austin, TX — This Christmas season, Texas Values is continuing the tradition of the “Merry Christmas Texas” project, which empowers public schools and individuals to use their constitutional rights to freely acknowledge and educate students about Christmas. In 2013, the Merry Christmas Law (H.B. 308), authored by State Representative Dwayne Bohac, officially became law with bipartisan support in the Texas Legislature. This law protects the religious liberty of children, parents, teachers, and school staff to acknowledge Christmas on school grounds without fear of censorship, persecution, or litigation. The ‘Merry Christmas Texas’ project was launched shortly after this bill was made law to continue to spread awareness on First Amendment rights, and also includes protecting Christmas from attack in Texas in other places outside of the public school classroom as well.
Jonathan Saenz, President and Attorney of Texas Values, released the following statement:
“President Trump’s promise to say “Merry Christmas” when he is elected is a move in the direction of common sense. Yes, It is okay to say, ‘Merry Christmas’ in public schools. We hope this year that less Texas school districts are naughty and more are nice. Texas protects anyone who wants to celebrate Christmas without fear of political correctness. The Merry Christmas Texas Project ensures public school students and parents are knowledgeable about the common-sense safeguards in Texas law that protect their First Amendment rights.”
Texas Values helped defend a Killeen school employee’s Christmas decoration that included a quote from the movie character “Linus” in the Charlie Brown Christmas case. The school district directed a public-school employee of Killeen ISD to take down her decoration while allowing other displays that represented other non-Christmas holidays to remain up. Texas Values and Ken Paxton’s Attorney General team defended the poster in court and won.
Last year, in 2023, we saw Carroll ISD (DFW Area) make a change to return calling the school break in December “Christmas and New Year’s Break.”
Some attacks on Christmas in Texas has taken place outside of the public school classroom as well. In 2022 we even saw the City of Taylor allow Drag Queens in the Christmas parade and then passing a city ordinance that effectively banned Christians from participating in the Christmas parade.
Texas Values is also promoting an audio clip about the Merry Christmas Texas Law. You can listen to the clip here and we encourage media outlets to use this clip.
Christmas encompasses the story of Jesus Christ and has been recognized as a federal holiday in the United States since the 1870s. Yet, the 21st century has been filled with many ongoing attacks on the celebration, acknowledgement and education of Christmas, a federal holiday, in public schools. Our First Amendment rights guarantee that teachers and students have a right to celebrate and express their beliefs when it comes to Christmas greetings, decorations, and the meaning of the holiday.
Also, in 2021, the Texas Legislature passed a new law (SB 581) that prohibits Home Owners Associations (HOAs) from making rules that restrict homeowners from having religious displays on their own property.
Last week, Todd Starnes with Newsmax featured the Merry Christmas Texas project on his show. Listen to Jonathan Saenz share details in this Newsmax interview.
For more examples of how the Merry Christmas Texas Project has protected religious freedom in Texas public schools, visit our blog post, Christmas Banned in TX By Naughty Schools??.
If you want to learn more about the rights that teachers, staff members, parents and students have at Texas public schools when it comes to the topic of Christmas, visit MerryChristmasTexas.com for more information.
To interview a member of the Texas Values policy team about the “Merry Christmas Texas” project and First Amendment rights, please contact Ashley at media@txvalues.org or 737-314-2450 (m).
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About Texas Values
Texas Values is the largest statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvalues.org.