Texas activist targeted, beaten amid ‘bathroom bill’ debate
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AUSTIN, Texas — Police say a Texas transgender activist beaten in a carjacking was targeted because of her gender identity, further raising tensions as state lawmakers advance revived legislation critics call an anti-LGBT “bathroom bill.”
Court documents filed Monday show 17-year-old Rayshad Deloach and his 26-year-old brother, Raymond, are charged with beating and pulling a gun on Stephanie Martinez before stealing her car in Austin last week.
Raymond Deloach told police the brothers targeted Martinez because she was transgender.
Martinez has vocally opposed a bill requiring transgender Texans to use public restrooms according to their birth-certificate gender that’s nearing passage in the Senate. It failed during Texas’ regular legislative session but was revived for an ongoing special session.
