A bill banning discrimination based on hairstyles like braids, dreadlocks, and twists has been approved by the Texas House.
“I believe how the hair naturally grows out of our heads should have nothing to do with what is inside,” Rep. Rhetta Bowers told the House committee, per the Houston Chronicle. “And therefore with any of the success that we accomplish, the time is now for Texas to take up this civil rights legislation and protect the people from racial discrimination.”
Bowers was the primary author behind the Texas CROWN Act and was joined by Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Ron Reynolds, Representative Carl Sherman, and CROWN Coalition Co-Creator Adjoa B. Asamoah. The acronym CROWN stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.
The legislation prohibits discrimination at schools, workplaces, and in housing. Lawmakers were galvanized by a pair of Black high school students who were warned by their Mont Belvieu, Texas high school that they would be disciplined if they didn’t chop off their dreadlocks back in 2019.
“The act aims to create a quote respectful environment for natural hair. It would prohibit discrimination based on hair texture or protect hairstyles associated with race,” KXAN writes. The bill is now making its way to the floor of the Texas Senate.
“I am incredibly thankful for the broad sweeping and bipartisan support from every corner of the State. From the grassroots advocates that volunteered to show up on their own time to testify, to the Democrats and Republicans that joined me on day one as Joint Authors and Coauthors, we
couldn’t have done it without you,” Bowers said, per the news outlet.
In total, 20 states have passed legislation to ban race-based discrimination due to natural hair.
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