Crush of the Week.

Way To Take A Stand In Support of LGBT Rights, Dallas City Council.

Dear Every Dallas City Council Member Except Sheffie Kadane and Vonciel Jones Hill,

How are you all doing? We hope you're are having an excellent Friday, with some awesome plans in store for the weekend. You certainly deserve that much given the fantastic shift you put into motion this week.

Honestly, we sometimes face a tough decision with what to highlight in this space in this week. But, this time around, choosing you guys was as easy as the task's ever been.

We can't emphasize enough how proud we are — as residents of Dallas, and, really, just as members of the human race — that you guys approved a resolution that will finally attempt to fix the inequalities that Dallas' LGBTQ employees face when it comes to city-provided benefits and pensions.

When councilmember Scott Griggs told us in December that — despite Delia Jasso's sabotaging the measure when it was first proposed last year — he thought the council would do something about equality this year, we were a little skeptical.

After all, Dallas is still in Texas, a state that hasn't exactly reacted positively to the growing sentiment that maybe, just maybe, everyone deserves the same rights and protections no matter what.

Despite out doubts, you guys came through — and the city is better for it. We're better because, even before marriage for everyone inevitably comes to our state, the leaders of our city have affirmed that everyone who lives here is equally valuable. We're better because you guys have acknowledged that pretending that anyone should be denied available benefits because of who they care about isn't just stupid, it's clearly and categorically wrong. And we're better because we have a mayor who'll actually sign this resolution.

That's right, Mayor Rawlings. We didn't forget you. We're quite aware that had your predecessor still been in office, this measure wouldn't have had a chance. We may not agree with you on everything, but we can't help but appreciate the progressive lean the city has taken with you in office.

Our only disappointment is that the vote wasn't unanimous. That's on you, Mr. Kadane and Ms. Hill.

First of all, Sheffie, your post-vote comments were reprehensible. You said that “[t]wo guys just living together should have the same rights as LGBT. I think this should read 'LGBT-plus-one.' That considers everyone.” Diminishing partnerships to the level of two bros hanging out is not cool, bro. I mean, if those bros want to spend the rest of their life together, that's one thing. But that clearly wasn't what you were talking about.

As for you, Ms. Hill? Well, at least you had the good sense not to comment. But you should still be ashamed of yourself.

See, good things happen when we stand up for each other.

So, thanks again, Dallas City Council (or, well, most of you) and Mayor Rawlings, for standing up for all of us.

Yours truly,
Stephen Young and the rest of the Central Track staff

Cover photo by Kent Wang, via WikiCommons.