Texas has officially enacted the CROWN Act. The law protects people with textured hair from race-based hair discrimination. The new enactment comes four years after the CROWN Act was first introduced in Texas’ legislature.
The CROWN Act in Texas
The legislation was originally created in 2019 by Adjoa Asamoah, Orlena Nwokah Blanchard, Esi Eggleston Bracey, and Kelli Richardson Lawson. The women have been advocating for people with textured hair to be able to exist in shared, public spaces without having to face discrimination.
Although, the creators are still working on getting the CROWN Act passed federally, 23 states have enacted the Act. Texas is now the newest state to impose the law.
“I’m proud to know that this legislation will provide a space for people to know they can walk into any place and be themselves, unapologetically,” Democratic state Rep. Rhetta Bowers said to CBS News Texas.
Texas announced the approval of the CROWN Act in May and announced a September enactment date. Different counties and municipalities throughout the state enacted their own versions of the law prior to Governor Gregg Abbott’s signing. The new statewide measure protects all Texans from hair-based discrimination in the workplace, schools, and housing.
Bowers expressed that the passage of the new legislature can positively impact the country.
“It is a part of diversity, equity and inclusion, and we needed to recognize that, especially with everything that’s happening still here in this state … In a Republican controlled and led legislature and government here in Texas — if we can pass it here, we certainly should be able to pass it at the federal level and anywhere across this country,” Bowers said.