Some of the other commenters hit the nail on the head. The reason is the removal of women's rights previously taken as a given. Also a consideration is the nega

Some of the other commenters hit the nail on the head. The reason is the removal of women's rights previously taken as a given. Also a consideration is the negative view/actions of some police in these states toward anyone who is considered non-standard or non-Christian in any way (e.g., at one point my daughter was close friends with a Muslim African-American). This is America, so according to the current laws those states have the right to do that. I personally think it's wrong, and would never subject my daughter to that, but my only option is to vote with my money and my feet - so I don't go to conferences in those states, and will never live in those states. “A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.” ― Winston S. Churchill As a parting thought, I admire Nikolai Tesla, and Alan Turing. Tesla was suspected of being a communist and was in love with a pigeon. Turing was homosexual. How do you think either of these legendary minds would have fared had they been born in and lived in Texas? Would they have survived to do what they did? What would our world be like today if it had none of their publications or inventions?