Villalba on marriage equality: ‘That’s a dangerous question for me to answer’

Posted on 19 Jun 2013 at 4:58pm

State Rep. Jason Villalba speaks at a Log Cabin Republicans of Dallas meeting Tuesday. (Anna Waugh/Dallas Voice)

Dallas Republican Jason Villalba just completed his freshman year in the state House, managing to finish the session with a D-minus on Equality Texas’ Legislative Scorecard.

Villalba was one of only three freshmen Republicans to score above an F on the scorecard. Gatesville’s J.D. Sheffield also got a D-minus, and Austin’s Tony Dale got a D.

Villalba discussed the session Tuesday at the Log Cabin Republicans of Dallas’ June meeting, focusing on education, transportation and water conservation. But he talked LGBT issues with Dallas Voice before the meeting.

His Equality Texas score resulted from his voting to table two amendments affecting the LGBT community and voting against Republican Matt Krause’s discriminatory amendment.

He said he also opposed the anti-gay bill by Drew Springer, R-Muenster, that would have defunded school districts that offered domestic partner benefits.

“I believe strongly that in Texas we need to keep the government out of our private lives and I want to make sure that we do that,” he said. “With respect to an issue like that, it’s a very sensitive topic. I think with respect to state money, we need to give that some very deep consideration.”

Asked if he supports offering DP benefits, he said it should remain a local control issue.

“I believe for private corporations, that if they want to provide benefits for same-sex partners, that that should be within their ability. I believe with respect state government agencies — agencies that receive federal resources or state resources — that should be up to the city or that should be under local control,” Villalba said. “I don’t believe the state of Texas should be making those kinds of decisions. I think that should be left to the local groups. If [Springer’s] local school district or local community wants to provide it, they should be able to do that. But if they want to prohibit that, they should be able to do that.”

Continue reading “Villalba on marriage equality: ‘That’s a dangerous question for me to answer’” »

— Anna Waugh

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Houston Pride reverses course, allows condoms to be distributed at parade

Posted on 19 Jun 2013 at 2:28pm

Participants toss items to spectators during last year’s Houston Pride parade.

After Pride Houston announced at a parade participation meeting that condoms could not be distributed at Pride, the Houston Department of Health and Human Services threatened to withdraw.

Pride Houston claimed in an email that a city ordinance prevented them from allowing condom distribution:

“Recent changes in city ordinances have constituted a change in the 2013 celebration rules. They are as follows: Parade entries are not allowed to throw/distribute contraceptives from their entry (i.e., float, vehicle or walking individuals).”

But letters from the health department and Legacy Community Health Services, a Houston AIDS agency, asked the parade committee to reconsider and pointed out that there is no such city ordinance.

The committee issued several clarifications during the week. One said condoms needed to be distributed in packs with educational material and could only be distributed to people over 18.

Another was condoms could be distributed at the festival after the parade but not at the parade.

Another noted that nothing could be thrown from floats, according to a city ordinance. But beads are regularly thrown.

Finally, the committee agreed that condoms could be distributed by walking participants in the parade but not thrown from floats. The health department may also distribute condoms at the festival. No age limit was mentioned in the latest clarification.

“My take is they got some bad information on what the ordinances are,” said Daniel Williams, a Houston LGBT activist.

Williams works for Equality Texas but was speaking as a Houston LGBT activist. He pointed out Pride Houston is a volunteer organization.

“Now that they have better information, they changed the rules to comply with the information they have,” he said.

The Houston parade takes place along Westheimer Road in the city’s Montrose neighborhood on June 29.

— David Taffet

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Rainbow-colored version of ‘B-G’ letters coming to Oak Lawn

Posted on 18 Jun 2013 at 4:58pm

A mock-up of the rainbow-colored ‘B-G’ sculpture.

Dallas’ “B-G” letters are coming to Oak Lawn repainted in rainbow colors, according to Scott Barretto.

Barretto’s Social House Media agency and ilume developer Luke Crossland are paying for the colorful paint job and the sculpture will be placed outside Crossland’s building at Knight Street and Cedar Springs Road in front of the old Monica’s.

Barretto said painting should take about six days but the letters in rainbow colors should be ready in time for some June Pride Month photography.

The letters are part of a marketing campaign conducted by the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote tourism to the city. The idea is for people to be photographed standing between the “B” and “G” to make the “I.” The letters have been placed in various places around the city, but not in Oak Lawn.

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— David Taffet

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WATCH: Dallas County passes 1st LGBT Pride Month resolution

Posted on 18 Jun 2013 at 11:00am

LGBT advocates who attended Tuesday’s Dallas County Commissioners Court meeting gather on the steps of the administration building after the Pride resolution passes. (Anna Waugh/Dallas Voice)

Dallas County commissioners unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday declaring June LGBT Pride Month.

The resolution is the first of its kind for the county. The Dallas City Council has issued proclamations the past three years recognizing June as LGBT Pride Month.

Commissioner Theresa Daniel presented the resolution, reading it to the room before it passed. Commissioner Mike Cantrell, the only Republican on the five-member court, was absent from the meeting.

“On this special occasion, we must bear in mind that while we have overcome difficult obstacles, tolerance and acceptance is something we must all practice and teach future generations,” the resolution reads in part. (Read the full version here)

After its passage, activist Omar Narvaez then addressed the court with several LGBT supporters standing behind him. He spoke about the importance of the LGBT community having showing its Pride during June.

“It’s so appropriate that our symbol for the LGBT community is a rainbow because we are every single part, we are every fabric of that rainbow,” he said. “We are African-American, we’re Latino, we are white, we are Asian, we are Native American.”

Continue reading “WATCH: Dallas County passes 1st LGBT Pride Month resolution” »

— Anna Waugh

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Dallas city councilwoman objects to billboard promoting HIV testing

Posted on 18 Jun 2013 at 8:23am

Vonciel Hill

Along with Mayor Mike Rawlings, Dallas City Councilwoman Vonciel Hill was absent last week when the council debated a resolution in support of marriage equality and LGBT job protections. Hill must feel like she missed an opportunity to join certain other council members in showing off their anti-gay bigotry, because this week she made up for it by emailing Fox 4 to complain about a billboard in South Dallas, above, encouraging people to get tested for HIV. From Fox 4:

Councilwoman Vonciel Hill wrote that the billboard has several messages: presenting African American men who are homosexuals as acceptable, engaging in such conduct presents health risks, feel free to continue what you are doing but protect your health.

It’s a little disturbing that Fox 4 would even consider this a story in 2013 — not 1983 — but reporter Shaun Rabb does a good job of getting Dallas County HHS Director Zachary Thompson and AIDS Arms Executive Director John Carlo to thoroughly refute Hill’s arguments.

We’d only like to add that Hill’s email seems to have several messages: she hates gay people, she wants gay people to die from AIDS, and she wants African-American women to continue contracting HIV at alarmingly high rates.

Now, why on earth would anyone castigate her for that?

Watch Fox 4′s report below.

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— John Wright

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Villalba, who got D-minus from Equality Texas, to speak at Log Cabin meeting

Posted on 17 Jun 2013 at 12:08pm

State Rep. Jason Villalba

State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, is the guest at the Dallas Log Cabin Republicans’ June meeting on Tuesday.

Villalba, who just finished his first session in office, received a D-minus on Equality Texas’ Legislative scorecard. He received a total of 40 points for votes in the House.

Villalba received point for opposing Fort Worth Republican Matt Krause’s discriminatory amendment to SB 215 that would have allowed university clubs to ignore “all-comers” policies regarding membership. But he lost points for voting against HB 2240, which was endorsed by Equality Texas and would have studied the reasons surrounding homeless youth in the state.

Villalba made headlines during the session with HB 1009, a bill he authored, that passed, allowing schools to employ an armed school marshal to protect campuses.

The meeting is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Texas Land & Cattle Steakhouse, 3130 Lemmon Ave.

— Anna Waugh

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Veasey does NOH8 shoot; Hall mistakenly attends gay event

Posted on 17 Jun 2013 at 12:05pm

Rep. Marc Veasey, left

While one North Texas congressman participated in a photo shoot supporting marriage equality last week, another recently attended a reception for an LGBT group — by mistake.

“This morning, I participated in a NOH8 Campaign photo shoot with over 60 members of Congress,” Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, wrote on his Facebook page on June 13. “As a member of the House LGBT Equality Caucus, I am proud to stand in support of marriage equality and equal rights for all Americans.”

He posted the photo above from tho shoot.

“Stay tuned for the official portrait,” he said.

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— David Taffet

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Dallas LGBT community to rally on Cedar Springs on Day of Decision

Posted on 17 Jun 2013 at 9:22am

The Dallas LGBT community gathered on the eve of oral arguments in the marriage equality cases at the Legacy of Love Monument in March.

And the wait continues.

The U.S. Supreme Court did not issue opinions this morning in two historic marriage equality cases, leaving just three possible dates for the high court to hand down its rulings — June 20, June 24 and either June 26 or 27.

On the same day the high court finally does rule in the cases challenging Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act, the Dallas LGBT community will gather at 7 p.m. for a Decision Day rally at the Legacy of Love Monument, at Cedar Springs Road and Oak Lawn Avenue.

From the Facebook page:

“On March 25th, 2013 LGBT Dallasites and our many allies stood with hundreds of thousands across the nation on the eve of the Supreme Court hearings for Prop. 8 and DOMA. WE SHOOK THIS NATION! As one we called out for equality! As one we stood on the side of LOVE! As one we entrusted our nation’s highest court with the civil rights of millions of Americans! Now we await their decision. Join us on the day the high court issues their rulings on marriage equality! We will gather again at the Legacy of Love Monument (Frank H. Caven Memorial Garden) at 7pm in jubilant celebration of a historic victory for the LGBT rights movement or fierce protest if the justices refuse to extend equality! Wear RED as a symbol of your support for marriage equality! Bring signs, candles, flags, drums, noise makers! Whether victory or defeat- we will be there to light the way to justice once again!”

The Dallas rally is one of many across the nation planned for the same day. For an interactive map, go here.

— John Wright

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BREAKING: Philip Kingston, Rick Callahan win Dallas City Council seats

Posted on 15 Jun 2013 at 9:02pm

Dallas City Councilman-elect Philip Kingston, right, hugs outgoing Councilwoman Angela Hunt at his watch party Saturday at the Pour House. Kingston will replace Hunt, who endorsed him. (David Taffet/Dallas Voice)

Philip Kingston narrowly defeated fellow attorney Bobby Abtahi on Saturday in a runoff between two LGBT allies for the District 14 Dallas City Council seat.

With 39 of 41 precincts reporting, Kingston has 2,339 votes, or 55 percent, to Abtahi’s 1,946 votes, or 45 percent.

Kingston will replace Councilwoman Angela Hunt, a staunch LGBT supporter who was term limited and endorsed Kingston in the race. District 14 is among the most heavily LGBT in the city and covers parts of Oak Lawn, East Dallas and downtown.

Kingston and his supporters gathered at the Pour House on Skillman. In his victory speech, Kingston thanked his all-volunteer staff and supporters for running a clean and positive race.

“Our message was issues-driven and relentlessly positive,” Kingston told Dallas Voice. “That resonated with voters in District 14.”

Abtahi and several dozen supporters waited for results at The Mason Bar in Uptown. He called Kingston after it was clear he’d lost before thanking his supporters for their hard work and faith in him throughout a long campaign.

“We started this campaign at 1 percent. That was our name ID. That’s how much of the vote we were going to get, 1 percent,” Abtahi said. “And we came back and we showed people that you could have someone from the outside, you could have someone who wasn’t endorsed by the incumbent make a run for it and we did a great job. And I appreciate all your support and now it’s time to relax.”

Kingston and Abtahi expressed strong support for the LGBT community during the campaign, with both saying they’d back a council resolution endorsing marriage equality and statewide LGBT job protections.

Kingston was criticized for his mostly Republican primary voting history and for financial contributions to conservative causes, including a PAC now affiliated with Sen. Ted Cruz and the campaign of Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. However, Kingston also gave money to the campaign to defeat Texas’ marriage amendment in 2005.

Abtahi, who has a lesbian sister, was endorsed by Stonewall Democrats, while Kingston had the backing of the nonpartisan Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance.

In the other City Council runoff, Rick Callahan defeated Jesse Diaz in the newly created District 5, which covers Pleasant Grove in southeast Dallas. Diaz was endorsed by Stonewall Democrats. In response to a Dallas Voice questionnaire, Callahan said he supports civil unions but not marriage equality, but his campaign manager later said he would support the council marriage equality resolution.

Bobby Abtahi shakes hands with gay former Councilman Craig Holcomb at his watch party at the Mason Bar on Guillot Street in State-Thomas. (Anna Waugh/Dallas Voice)

— John Wright

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Gay Fort Worth school board member Carlos Vasquez concedes

Posted on 15 Jun 2013 at 7:57pm

Carlos Vasquez

Openly gay Fort Worth school board member Carlos Vasquez has conceded his race to challenger Jacinto Ramos. Vasquez posted his concession on Facebook tonight after early voting results showed him with fewer than 20 percent of ballots cast.

“I am proud of my five years of service on the board and the incredible things we accomplished during my tenure,” Vasquez wrote. “The board structure has been opened to allow for Board Presidents from all over our city and we have opened the doors of inclusion at the FWISD. I am also pleased at the selection of Walter Dansby as superintendent. He has made valuable progress and I know this new board will be eager to work with him to improve educational opportunities for all our children.

“I want to congratulate Jacinto Ramos on his election to the board and will make myself available to assist him in any manner as he transitions to this important leadership role within our community,” Vasquez wrote. “I was unable to conduct a campaign during this runoff election due primarily to my mother’s recent diagnosis of cancer. I wish to thank my supporters and all those who have worked so hard to improve the FWISD these last years. Our brightest days are ahead!”

Vasquez, first elected in 2009, is one of only two openly gay school board members in Texas, but many in the Fort Worth LGBT community backed Ramos in the race.

Vasquez, 45, has been criticized for his temperament and infighting on the board. His lack of attention to LGBT issues has also caused strife.

— John Wright

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