PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — The Pflugerville City Council has passed a resolution in support of the CROWN Act.
The CROWN Act, also known as the "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act," is the result of a campaign created in 2019 by Dove and the CROWN Coalition to protect against "discrimination based on race-based hairstyles by extending statutory protection to hair texture and protective styles such as braids, locs, twists, and knots in the workplace and public schools."
The 2023 CROWN Workplace Research Study found that Black women's hair is more than twice as likely to be perceived as unprofessional, approximately two-thirds of Black women change their hair for a job interview and over 20% of Black women have been sent home from work because of their hair.
On April 13, 2023, the Texas House passed House Bill 567, the Texas Crown Act, with a 143-5 vote. The bill has been referred to the Senate State Affairs Committee.
Following the bill's passing in the House, the Pflugerville City Council unanimously approved a resolution to support the CROWN Act on April 25.
"The City Council of the City of Pflugerville has determined that discrimination based on hair texture or hairstyle should be prohibited.,” Mayor Victor Gonzales said. “Our support of the CROWN Act shows our unwavering commitment to equity and our community."
In a press release, the City of Pflugerville stated that it "prides itself on being one of the most diverse cities in Central Texas" and through the passing of the resolution "affirmed its support for the adoption of CROWN standard to prevent discrimination based on hair textures and hairstyles."
The effort to garner support for the CROWN Act in Pflugerville is the result of a partnership between the nonprofit organization Measure and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.'s Pi Omega Zeta Chapter. The groups have advocated to ensure that no one in Pflugerville is discriminated against because of their hair.
"I am especially proud of the Black women of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Pi Omega Zeta Chapter and Measure, led by Angel Carroll for elevating this critical act and mobilizing our community to make the change," Meme Styles, president of Measure, said in a statement. "I am also grateful to Representative [Rhetta Andrews] Bowers who is working in the Senate legislature to pass it statewide."
Measure said in a press release that it is optimistic that state legislators will join other states in sponsoring and voting for the legislation.
Across the country, 20 states have passed and signed the CROWN Act into law.
Last year, the Austin City Council amended the City code to add "protective hairstyles" such as afros, cornrows and bantu knots to the definition of "Discriminatory Employment Practices." Austin was the first Texas city to pass the CROWN Act.