Texas has more hate groups than any other state, reports MySanAntonio.com. These groups are dedicated to promoting anti-LGBT sentiment and racism, according to a new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center. In addition, noted the report, rhetoric by Texas politicians could be partially to blame for the 14 percent rise in the number of hate groups across the country.
The editor of the report told The Dallas Morning News that the behavior of some Lone Star pols, including US Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. Greg Abbott, had introduced harmful rhetoric to the nation’s political conversation.
For example, in November Cruz spoke at a conference organized by a Christian pastor who has repeatedly called for LGBT people to be killed. The senator has also advocated for using religious tests to bar refugees who are Muslim while admitting Christian refugees.