Richard Linklater Directs PSA Against Texas Bathroom Bill (Video)

The ACLU of Texas has released a new PSA directed by Richard Linklater slamming the Texas Privacy Act.

The bill, Senate Bill 6, would block transgender individuals from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity, which the ad calls discrimination.

As part of the “I Pee With LGBT” campaign, the ad argues against the assertion that the law would improve privacy and safety. “This isn’t a privacy issue. It’s a discrimination issue,” the ad says.

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“Disguised as a safety issue, the Texas Privacy Act, also known as SB6, seeks to ban transgender individuals from using the bathroom of the gender with which they identify,” the video’s description reads. “Passing the bill would harm Texas business to the tune of billions of dollars. Just ask North Carolina.”

“A bathroom is not where women and children are at risk. Where our public bathrooms are concerned, transgender people are the real targets: 70 percent of transgender men and women report having been verbally or physically attacked while using a restroom.”

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“Lt. Gov. Patrick and other state lawmakers who support S.B. 6 portray the bill as a ‘common sense’ protection of ‘common decency’,” Terri Burke, executive director of the ACLU of Texas, said in a statement to the San Antonio Current. “There’s nothing decent about a proposed law that would exclude transgender people from public spaces or bar them from participating in public life. With this campaign we hope to raise awareness on the issue and ensure that Texas doesn’t consign our transgender brothers and sisters to second-class status under the law.”

Born in Houston, Texas, Linklater moved to Austin after dropping out of college (following a stint working on an oil rig). Many of his famous films — including “Boyhood,” “Dazed and Confused,” and “Everybody Wants Some!!” — are based in the Lone Star state, and despite their success, he refuses to move to Hollywood.

Watch the video.

'Dazed and Confused' Stars: Where Are They Now? (Photos)

As cult classic turns 25, take a look at the film's many stars, then and now.
David Wooderson:
Matthew McConaughey is now one of the biggest stars in the world, and an Oscar winner for "Dallas Buyers Club," but might never escape his first notable role. The character only had four lines until Linklater cast McConaughey. He then gradually expanded the role into one of the leads, and the actor has since co-starred in Linklater's "Newton Boys" and "Bernie." The character that spawned "Alright, alright, alright" will never be forgotten.
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Mike Newhouse:
Adam Goldberg is now an in-demand character actor, perhaps best known for his roles in "Friends," "Saving Private Ryan" and "Fargo."
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Randall "Pink" Floyd:
Jason London was never able to replicate his "Dazed" success, instead he appeared in a handful of films ("Zombie Shark") and television episodes ("Major Crimes," "Dallas").
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Simone Kerr:
Joey Lauren Adams became the onscreen girlfriend every guy wanted during the '90s, starring in "Mallrats" and earning a Golden Globe nomination for "Chasing Amy" (which also starred fellow "Dazed" alum Ben Affleck). More recently, she had an arc on ABC Family's "Switched at Birth" and appears regularly in indie movies.
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Darla Marks:
Parker Posey quickly rose to "Queen of the Indies" status after "Dazed," and is now perhaps best known for co-starring in the Christopher Guest mockumentaries "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind." She's also become a regular in Woody Allen movies like "Irrational Man" and "Cafe Society."
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Mitch Kramer:
Wiley Wiggins quit acting to become a video game designer, but still pops up in the occasional low-budget passion project.
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Fred O'Bannion:
It's easy to forget that Ben Affleck's career started as the quasi-sadistic bully in "Dazed," but the young actor from Boston used the role to spring into Hollywood.
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Ron Slater: Rory Cochrane's career stalled after "Dazed" and the cult film "Empire Records," but he has started a new phase as a character actor in mid-2000s shows like "CSI: Miami" and "24" as well as movies like "Argo" (directed by and starring Affleck) and "Black Mass."
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Nesi White:
In a "blink and you'll miss it" appearance, Renee Zellweger is basically a background character in her first film appearance, but would star the next year in "Texas Chainsaw Massacre 4" opposite fellow "Dazed" alum Matthew McConaughey. She went on to hits like "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Chicago" -- and win an Oscar for "Cold Mountain."
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Tony:
Anthony Rapp went on to originate the role of Mark in the Tony Award-winning musical "Rent" and also appeared in "A Beautiful Mind," sharing many scenes with his "Dazed" co-star Goldberg. Recent screen credits include "The Knick" and a string of indies. He also accused actor Kevin Spacey of sexual misconduct.
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Michelle Burroughs:
Milla Jovovich would break out as a star just four years after "Dazed" with "The Fifth Element," and would later lead the "Resident Evil" action franchise. She also appeared in "Zoolander 2."
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Kevin Pickford:
Shawn Andrews recently starred in "Fix" with Olivia Wilde, but is probably best known for marrying the underage Jovovich after "Dazed," then annulling the marriage two months later.
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Cynthia Dunn:
Marissa Ribisi (the twin sister of Giovanni Ribisi) would go on to film appearances in "Pleasantville," "Friends" and "Felicity."
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