Harris County is launching a new LGBTQIA+ Commission to “advance equality,” but critics claim Harris County has no business pushing “woke agendas” while failing to address the real problems faced by the county’s residents.
The motion to create the LGBTQIA+ Commission was introduced by County Commissioner Lesley Briones, who called the move an important step toward fostering equality and expanding the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community, according to a press release from Briones’ office.
“The Human Rights Campaign has declared a national state of emergency for LGBTQIA+ people for the first time in its history following a slate of harmful and discriminatory legislation across the nation,” said Briones. “Representation matters. This Commission will ensure voices of the LGBTQIA+ community are front and center in the County’s decision-making processes.”
Harris County Commissioners approved the creation of the LGBTQIA+ Commission on June 6 in a 4-1 vote.
The Commissioners Court will appoint members of the LGBTQIA+ Commission, who will provide policy recommendations to county officials.
LGBTQ+ advocates, including the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus and the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce, have praised Briones and Harris County for launching this initiative.
“Harris County has a responsibility … [to] supporting its constituents to ensure LGBTQIA+ voices are heard and represented,” said Landon Richie, who identifies as a transgender man and serves as a policy associate with the Transgender Education Network of Texas.
However, the creation of the LGBTQIA+ Commission has faced criticism from activists such as those at the Texas Family Project (TFP).
“While residents of Harris County are struggling to pay their outrageous tax bills, the Commissioners Court is focusing on woke agendas to no benefit of their constituents,” said TFP board member Brady Gray in a statement to Texas Scorecard.
“It seems nothing is safe from the indoctrination of these perverse agendas,” Gray continued. “The idea that a commissioners court should concern itself with the sexual orientation of its citizens is absent logic,” Gray continued.
Gray also said the people of Harris County “should take note of what their commissioners are wasting time on and demand they focus on solutions for all residents, not a tiny percentage of those they see as politically profitable.”
As noted in the aforementioned press release, the approval of the LGBTQIA+ Commission follows Harris County’s appointment of Dr. Cody Pyke to the Harris Health System Board of Trustees, which “oversees a $2.3 billion” healthcare system.
Dr. Cody Pyke identifies as “transgender and nonbinary” and uses “she/they” pronouns. Pyke was nominated to the board by Commissioner Briones.
