THIS… IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO!
FROM THE DESK OF JONATHAN M. SAENZ
PRESIDENT & ATTORNEY FOR TEXAS VALUES
For almost two years, Brooke Slusser had a man sharing her room and other private spaces, and
she didn’t even know it! Brooke, who played sports on high school teams in Texas, went on to play college volleyball. And, for months, Brooke even had to travel with her college volleyball team for games, and had this male “athlete” sharing her hotel room and bathroom. He actually requested to be in her hotel room. And she had no idea. Why not? Because this male athlete, who was allowed to play on the women’s team, was doing all kinds of sneaky and secret things to cover his identity and trick people. And it worked…
Brooke only found out that time and again, she had been sharing a hotel room and other private spaces, with this male when she saw his bag in their shared bath- room and noticed something called a “Tuck Kit.”
WARNING!! WHAT YOU READ NEXT IS SENSITIVE AND NOT MEANT FOR KIDS TO READ.
What is a “Tuck Kit?” A Tuck Kit is a device with heavy-duty tape that allows a man to hide his genitalia, so no one can tell he’s a man. Brooke testified that she undressed in private spaces, including locker rooms, in front of this man numerous times for almost 2 years. These private spaces should have been safe!
What is a “Tuck Kit?” A Tuck Kit is a device with heavy-duty tape that allows a man to hide his genitalia, so no one can tell he’s a man. Brooke testified that she undressed in private spaces, including locker rooms, in front of this man numerous times for almost 2 years. These private spaces should have been safe!
Can you imagine if this were you, your daughter, your granddaughter, or your wife?
At Texas Values, we are constantly reminded of the importance of the laws we work on passing, and that without them, Texans lose rights, Texans lose life, and Texans like Brooke are left vulnerable and violated. Brooke’s experience makes it clear why it matters that our Texas law is explicit in codifying the distinction between male and female, based on God’s design and basic biology. No room for confusion. No room for “we aren’t sure what a woman or a man is” excuses. No room for these major violations against girls and women.
That’s exactly what we did by passing HB 229!!! And Brooke helped us by telling her story to the Texas Senate!
Continue reading to learn about our Legislative session wrap-up, more about this, and other bills that our Texas Values team worked to pass into law.
2025 TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION: BACK TO BASICS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS
Do you want the good news or the bad news first?
The good news is there’s more good news than bad coming out of the 2025 Texas Legislative Session (89th), which officially ended on June 2, 2025. How remarkable that today’s good news would come from Austin—a city that is known as ground-zero for so much left-wing madness! We have many victories to report on the next page!
Texans have insisted, yet again, that their elected officials protect their most bedrock liberties and values. And, with the Texas Values team being in the Capitol every day during this session, working with your legislators, a majority were persuaded to act on our demands.
Let’s be clear: these victories come, in large part, thanks to the faithful support of folks like you. Your regular gifts and fervent prayers are the fuel that powers everything we do to educate and mobilize the people of Texas—and make their voices heard.
Reminder—WE ARE THE ONLY FAITH & FAMILY ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM AT THE TEXAS CAPITOL EVERY DAY OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION!! We testified in over 150 hearings during this legislative session.
Not only did we lead the effort to pass important legislation, but our Church Ambassador Network of Texas (TXCAN) gave a personalized Bible to every Texas House and Senate member, and to Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, and Attorney General Ken Paxton! Our TXCAN team prayed with every legislative office twice this session!!
My first bit of Good News?
NEW MATCHING CHALLENGE GRANT WILL MATCH $500,000
Yes, you read that correctly! Several of our strong supporters have come together to offer a Challenge Grant to double your most generous contribution by matching it up to $500,000, but we must receive it by the end of our fiscal year ending on June 30, 2025.
And from the 2025 Texas Legislative Session (89th):
Good News and Some Bad…
GOOD NEWS… SB 10—This bill requires the Ten Commandments to be posted in all public school classrooms. It was passed by the House and Senate, and Gov. Abbott will sign it soon.
GOOD NEWS… SB 33—This pro-life bill prohibits tax dollars from being used to fund abortion or abortion-related expenses (out-of-state travel for an abortion). The bill has been sent to the Governor.
GOOD NEWS… HB 229 (Women’s Bill of Rights/What Is A Woman? Bill)—This common-sense bill establishes a legal definition of male/female in all state laws, and requires this to be followed for discrimination claims. Riley Gaines supports it and Gov. Abbott will sign it soon.
GOOD NEWS… SB 11 (Coach Kennedy Bill)—
This religious freedom bill allows school districts to adopt a policy to provide students and staff a daily period of prayer and reading of the Bible.
GOOD NEWS… SB 12 (The Parents’ Bill of Rights)— Strengthens parental rights in public education, prohibits DEI hiring, training, and instruction, prohibits guidance on harmful sexual orientation and gender identity, includes parent permission before teaching human sexuality instruction (known as sex-ed opt-in), and prohibits LGBT clubs on campus.
GOOD NEWS… SB 13 (No Harmful Books or Materials in School Libraries Bill)—Will prohibit pornographic books in school libraries by creating a streamlined process for selecting and removing library books.
GOOD NEWS… $200 million of funding for Thriving Texas Families Program (alternatives to abortion), by funding pregnancy resource centers & other helpful nonprofits for mother/child.
GOOD NEWS… SCR 19—This bill authorizes the construction of a “Texas Life Monument” at the State Capitol on a site outside as a way of celebrating the end of Roe v. Wade abortion case.
GOOD NEWS… HB 100—This bill returns 100% author- ity to the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) to select instructional materials for all public schools in the state.
MORE GOOD NEWS… SB 2 (School Choice Bill)— Passed and has been signed by the Governor.
MORE GOOD
NEWS… SB 1257
(Ensuring Adequate
Health Care Coverage
for Detransitioners)–
This bill is for people who attempt to “transition” from one sex to the other, then decide and bathrooms.
BAD NEWS… SB 2880—A bill to restrict the distribution of abortion pills in Texas was passed in the Senate and then made it out of the House State Affairs committee, though very late, due to lack of action by Chairman Republican Ken King. Consequently, it was not voted on in the House.
The good news is we scored many victories on bills that mattered! The bad news is we didn’t win them all… There is an ongoing war on our values from the left—and they won’t give up! We must be ever vigilant and not let our guard down. We ask for your most generous contribution to support our vital work to defend faith, family, and freedom across our great state.
Faithfully,
Jonathan Saenz President, Texas Values
P.S. Remember, it is urgent that your contribution be received on or before June 30, the end of our fiscal year, to be doubled by our June Matching Challenge Grant.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Lisa Achilles, Director of Development, and Andrew Yeager, Senior Development Manager, will be leading our fundraising efforts, as well as managing the many outreach events we have scheduled. Wherever you are in Texas, we hope to meet you at one of these events:
SAN ANTONIO
June 6, 2025 • Noon
Alamo Cafe
AUSTIN
June 12, 2025 • Noon
Maggiano’s at the Domain
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
June 17, 2025 • Noon • $20
Honor Cafe
Senator Creighton Invited
COLLIN COUNTY & DENTON COUNTY
June 18, 2025 • Noon • $25
Saltgrass Steak House in The Colony
Keynote Speaker: Senator Angela Paxton
WEST TEXAS
June 25, 2025 • 6:00pm
Green Tree Country Club
Keynote Speaker: Coach Joe Kennedy
TARRANT COUNTY
June 26, 2025 • 6:00pm
Location Provided upon RSVP
HOUSTON
June 27, 2025 • Noon • $30
Maggiano’s in the Galleria
8TH ANNUAL TEXAS FAITH FEST
September 26-27, 2025
Great Hills Baptist Church
Please register online at: txvalues.org/events
Please contact: admin@txvalues.org to request a speaker for your next event or club meeting.
Texas Values is the largest statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. We are the leading state-based religious freedom organization in Texas. More information is available at: txvalues.org.