Wednesday, June 12, 2013

LGBT advocates protest removal of gay marriage resolution from June 12 council meeting
 — The Dallas gay community is hopping mad at Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. The kerfuffle centers around a mainly symbolic gay marriage resolution that seemed like it would go to a vote at Tuesday’s city council meeting. Mayor Mike Rawlings even said he would vote for it.
Then, Councilwoman Delia Jasso threw a wrench in the plans by pulling her support. Rawlings could have still placed it on the June 12 agenda, but has said he won’t. Mayor Pro Tem Pauline Medrano tried Friday to put it on the agenda anyway, but Rawlings blocked her efforts.
Saturday, the gay community rallied to show its displeasure.
“We’re here to support full equality for everyone, including the right to marry. We don’t see that as a particularly political or left-wing or right-wing kind of thing. We have family members and friends who are gay, who are lesbian, who are bisexual,” said Spencer Dawkins, co-president of Dallas PFLAG.
“It’s not going to ruin our marriage. In fact, it will probably enhance it if we can learn from them. They’re just individuals who want families like we have a family,” said Shirley Dunn, Dawkins’ wife.
Wednesday, gay activists still plan to show up to the city council meeting, even though the resolution is not on the agenda. GetEQUAL TX is hoping to “pack the Dallas City Council chambers,” according to a Facebook event page.
    “In response to homophobic blocking by Dallas Mayor, Mike Rawlings of all efforts to bring pro-equality resolutions to a vote this Wednesday, the LGBT community will pack the city council chambers during the June 12th City Council Meeting.”
By noon Tuesday, the Dallas city secretary’s office had four speakers signed up to address the council about the gay marriage resolution.

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