Creating Lasting Culture Change | Shaping Policy | Our Story

Creating


Lasting


Culture Change

Stories drive culture. Culture drives politics. Faith affects all of it.

The dominant religious narrative claims that people of faith do not affirm the LGBTQ community or support reproductive freedom. We disagree. We know most people trust women and support the full inclusion of the LGBTQ community. Throughout the history of social movements, dramatic social policy wins have come after shifts in public opinion. Just Texas creates lasting culture change by bringing the stories of people of faith out of the shadows and into the public square. Through sharing our stories and building relationships, we create the change we want to see in the world.

This is the moment

Telling our Stories
Building Relationships
Speaking Out

ShapingPolicy

Policy matters.

Policy impacts real people’s lives every day. We work to create lasting culture change so that we may shape public policy that improves the lives of all Texans.

Too many policies that affect Texans have been born out of a dominant religious narrative of exclusion and discrimination. This is why Just Texas organizes progressive people of faith and faith leaders, amplifying their voices to counter and disrupt the dominant narrative flowing through the halls of power. By leveraging our voices as progressive people of faith, we have helped stop harmful policies from becoming law.

We will not stand idly by while our faith is weaponized to hurt others. We are committed to this work until we all live in a Just Texas.

Just Texas supports policies that:
  • Increase access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion
  • Maintain and expand freedom and protection for the LGBTQ community
  • Protect and affirm the human dignity of all Texans through economic justice, climate justice, criminal justice, educational justice, immigration justice, and voting rights
  • Uphold and maintain the fundamental right to religious freedom

OurStory

Through our relationships and our stories, we understand that life is intersectional. For this reason, we also speak out on issues like immigration justice, climate justice, voting rights, religious freedom, criminal justice reform, and public education. Our faith traditions call us to care for the most marginalized populations. We work with communities of faith who deeply hunger for justice and connect them with the stories of those most impacted, so that together we may raise our voices high within the political sphere to create positive social change. In a world where having queer and female leadership in faith spaces can be rare, we are proud to be an all-queer, all-woman Just Texas team.

Sonja

Miller

She/her/hers Outreach and Faith Director

Sonja joined TFN in 2015 while attending Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Sonja’s lifetime commitment to social justice led her to serve as a public school teacher and principal and later working in abortion care, as well as working with clients as a licensed financial advisor prior to joining TFN. She shares a love of red wine and listening to podcasts with her Just Texas co-workers.

Rev. Erika

Forbes

She/her/hers Outreach and Faith Coordinator

Rev. Erika received her license and ordination as an Interfaith Minister from One Spirit Interfaith seminary in New York City. She has a Masters in World Religions and a BA in Education. When she’s not out fighting for social justice, you can find Erika on her yoga mat or with a glass of red wine in her hand.

Angela

Williams

She/her/hers Outreach and Faith Organizer

Angela is a queer Presbyterian pastor and community organizer trained by Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the Industrial Areas Foundation. She finds life in experiencing music, listening to podcasts, exploring creation, and engaging in theological discussions that go off the beaten path.