TITLE: Honoring the Houston Vitiligo Awareness Movement.

SUMMARY: Honoring the Houston Vitiligo Awareness Movement.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Houston Vitiligo Awareness Movement is working to raise public consciousness of a skin disorder that impacts the lives of millions of Americans and tens of millions of people the world over; and WHEREAS, A noncontagious autoimmune disease, vitiligo affects approximately one percent of the population, causing sufferers' skin to lose pigmentation and develop white patches; there is no cure for vitiligo, and children and adults with the disorder may experience problems related to self-esteem, depression, bullying, and isolation; and WHEREAS, Formed in 2016, the Houston Vitiligo Awareness Movement is dedicated to providing support to individuals who suffer from the disease and to helping members of the community gain a better understanding of the condition; under the leadership of founder Diane Wilkes-Tribitt, the organization has taken an innovative approach to this goal through such efforts as its inaugural event on April 8, 2017, "Embracing Who You Are," which engaged the audience with a combination of education and entertainment and included speaking appearances by medical experts, community leaders, and persons living with vitiligo; and WHEREAS, The disease is receiving additional attention thanks to the efforts of U.S. Representative Hank Johnson of Georgia, Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and other legislators, who introduced a resolution on March 21, 2017, expressing support for the designation of a National Vitiligo Awareness Day; such developments represent significant advances for vitiligo advocacy and serve to highlight the courage demonstrated by children and adults who are coping with the condition; and WHEREAS, Working with organizations across the country, the Houston Vitiligo Awareness Movement is helping lead the effort to foster dialogue and greater understanding of vitiligo, and the organization is indeed deserving of recognition for its service to this worthwhile cause; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby honor the Houston Vitiligo Awareness Movement for its admirable work and recognize April 8 as Houston Vitiligo Awareness Day; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the group as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Johnson of Harris Straus Goldman Oliverson Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Alonzo Gonz lez of El Paso Paddie Alvarado Gooden Parker Anchia Guerra Paul Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Ar valo Hefner Phillips Ashby Hernandez Pickett Bailes Herrero Price Bell Hinojosa Raney Bernal Holland Raymond Biedermann Howard Reynolds Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Bohac Hunter Roberts Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows Kacal Sanford Button Keough Schaefer Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Canales King of Parker Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Clardy Klick Sheffield Coleman Koop Shine Collier Krause Simmons Cook Kuempel Smithee Cortez Lambert Springer Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Craddick Lang Stickland Cyrier Larson Stucky Dale Laubenberg Swanson Darby Leach Thierry Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Deshotel Martinez Turner Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Elkins Miller Villalba Faircloth Minjarez Vo Fallon Moody Walle Farrar Morrison White Flynn Mu oz, Jr. Wilson Frank Murphy Workman Frullo Murr Wray Geren Neave Wu Gervin-Hawkins Nev rez Zedler Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2329 was adopted by the House on May 23, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House