Name Kris Banks | ||
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Education University of Houston Law Center, University of Texas at Austin | ||
Kris Banks is a LGBT political activist and contract lawyer in Houston, Texas. He was president of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus for two years (2009-2010), a nonprofit, bipartisan organization serving the community by endorsing GLBT-friendly politicians.
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Childhood
Kris Banks was born and raised as a Southern Baptist in Alvin, Texas, a town 30 miles south of Houston. His grandfather who ran for Justice of the Peace in 1984 influenced Mr. Banks’ political interests beginning at an early age. Mr. Banks believes his background as a conservative Christian helps him in understanding GLBT discrimination while his homosexual orientation facilitates advocacy for GLBT rights.
Education
After high school, Banks attended the University of Texas and majored in journalism, hoping to write for music magazines such as Spin. At UT, Banks wrote for the UT newspaper The Daily Texan about contemporary events as well as editorial pieces concerning social issues. From his experiences at The Daily Texan, Banks grew to enjoy column writing. He graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 2003. After his undergraduate years, Banks sampled a variety of journalistic jobs before moving on to other interests.
Kris Banks eventually went to the University of Houston Law School, where he held a position in Outlaw, a student association for GLBT concerns. He decided in a law degree with the idea of doing policy work in association with social rights afterward. At this time, Banks helped establish the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats, an organization advocating political action on behalf of the GLBT community. In 2008, the same year he graduated from the University of Houston Law School with a juris doctor, Banks was elected to the Houston GLBT Political Caucus’s board of directors as well as the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats’ secretary. In January 2009, Banks succeeded Jennifer Pool as the president of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus becoming the first president of the organization born after the organization was founded. In 2010 Kris Banks retained his position as President of Houston’s LGBT Political Caucus for the upcoming year. He retired from service at the end of 2010, and Noel Freeman became the new Caucus President for 2011.
Social Activism
As president of the GLBT Political Caucus, Banks acts in a variety of public relations roles between the GLBT community and the rest of Houston. He raises awareness of hate crimes committed against members of the GLBT community as well as works with the media in proper reporting of such incidents. Banks collaborated with the Houston Chronicle in recognizing the murder of Ms. Myra Ical, recognizing her as her identified female gender rather than her stated male gender. Banks also meets with politicians in order to discuss GLBT relevant policies such as amendments to the ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell to include the transgender population. He also works with politicians to provide endorsements to political candidates.