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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Kimberly Shappley of Austin has distinguished |
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| 6 | 7 | | herself through her exceptional work as an advocate for the |
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| 7 | 8 | | transgender youth community in Texas; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, The proud mother of a transgender daughter, Kai, |
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| 9 | 10 | | Ms. Shappley began her activism around the time that Kai entered |
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| 10 | 11 | | kindergarten; the family then resided in Pearland, and Ms. Shappley |
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| 11 | 12 | | spoke at school board meetings about anti-trans policies that |
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| 12 | 13 | | frequently reduced Kai to tears; in 2017, she and Kai testified in a |
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| 13 | 14 | | Texas Senate committee hearing against the so-called bathroom bill |
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| 14 | 15 | | that would have prevented transgender people from accessing |
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| 15 | 16 | | restrooms and locker rooms that matched their gender identity; |
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| 16 | 17 | | mother and daughter also shared their story in an |
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| 17 | 18 | | Emmy-Award-winning documentary; and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, In order to provide a more nurturing and affirming |
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| 19 | 20 | | school environment for Kai, Ms. Shappley moved the family to Austin |
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| 20 | 21 | | in 2018, and she has continued to fight for the rights of |
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| 21 | 22 | | transgender youth; in 2021, Kimberly and Kai received further |
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| 22 | 23 | | attention when Kai delivered powerful testimony before the Senate |
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| 23 | 24 | | Committee on State Affairs in opposition to three |
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| 24 | 25 | | transgender-related bills; video of her appearance went viral on |
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| 25 | 26 | | social media, raising awareness across the country of proposed |
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| 26 | 27 | | legislation targeting the trans community and their families; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, By courageously speaking out in behalf of |
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| 28 | 29 | | transgender children and serving as a stalwart ally, Kimberly |
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| 29 | 30 | | Shappley has set an inspiring example for other parents and helped |
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| 30 | 31 | | the public gain a greater understanding of issues that affect |
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| 31 | 32 | | transgender youth and their families; now, therefore, be it |
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| 32 | 33 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 33 | 34 | | Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commend Kimberly Shappley |
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| 34 | 35 | | for her advocacy in behalf of the transgender youth community in |
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| 35 | 36 | | Texas and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success in |
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| 36 | 37 | | her important work; and, be it further |
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| 37 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 38 | 39 | | prepared for Ms. Shappley as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 39 | 40 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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