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LUBBOCK — Clad in bold, vibrant hues, individuals from Lubbock’s LGBTQ+ community strategically positioned themselves in the city council chambers on Tuesday, forming a rainbow. Though silent, their intention was unmistakable: they yearned for acknowledgment and visibility from city officials.
Currently, they are experiencing a sense of being overlooked by their chosen representatives. Over the course of several weeks, community advocates tirelessly contacted local officials, urging them to issue a proclamation acknowledging June as Pride Month in Lubbock. Such a proclamation could have been publicly read either prior to or during the annual Pride event.
Most of the council did not respond to those requests, as mentioned in the communications shared by LubbockPRIDE. However, councilperson Christy Martinez-Garcia replied a few days after the event on June 10, expressing her unavailability when they initially reached out but offered assistance in securing the proclamation. Councilperson Mark McBrayer acknowledged that citizens may have differing opinions on “sexual politics” and deemed it inappropriate to issue a proclamation.
“We want to be acknowledged,” said Nick Harpster, the public relations and advocacy coordinator for LubbockPRIDE. “Whether they agree with us or not, whether they want to make a proclamation or not, we’re still here and want to be represented.”
After several tense years of political rhetoric that has brewed a distressing social climate for LGBTQ+ Texans and a legislative session where lawmakers pushed bills that threatened to upend their rights and lives, the support of local officials is crucial for the community fighting to stay out of the closet, its members said.
Cannon Roberts, a local activist who participated in the sit-in, emphasized the significance of recognizing and ensuring the safety and voices of this community. Roberts pointed out that Lubbock’s history has been marred by racial discrimination, starting from the redlining of certain areas in our charter. The council now has the opportunity to address this issue and take a stand against it. Despite the chance to make a different choice, they opted not to do so.
Over the course of several years, the LGBTQ+ community in Lubbock has persevered in their struggle for visibility and triumphantly organized Lubbock Pride events for 11 consecutive years. Harpster acknowledged that Lubbock, a predominantly conservative city, comprises a supportive community of allies. However, they have noticed an increase in resistance in recent times.
The community has also seen heartbreak — Cypress Ramos, a 21-year-old trans woman, was murdered last year. Her body was later found in a burning storage unit, and Lubbock police arrested her murderer soon after. Police later said there was no indication that Ramos’ murder was a hate crime, her murderer claims a song told him and Ramos to kill one another.
At a vigil held in Ramos’ memory, Harpster said people expressed disbelief over LPD’s statement.
Harpster remembered, “Fear consumed them. Regardless of whether it qualified as a hate crime, they considered it an attack on the trans community. They no longer felt secure in this place.”
The council chambers were almost at maximum capacity, predominantly filled with individuals participating in the rainbow sit-in. Despite this, the meeting adhered closely to the predetermined agenda, focusing discussions on zoning cases and road repairs, while inadvertently overlooking the presence of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies seated right in front of them.
The participants were well aware that nothing related to the LGBTQ+ community would be discussed, hence they anticipated this outcome.
Roberts expressed his surprise, stating, “I expected the city council or the mayor to show some gratitude for our attendance. We were respectful and did not disrupt their proceedings in any way. This lack of acknowledgment reflects a failure in leadership.”
After the meeting, McBrayer engaged in a conversation with protestors at the lobby of Citizens Tower. He discussed his observations of Pride video celebrations he had witnessed, while Adam Hernandez, a local activist, advised McBrayer to personally engage with more LGBTQ+ residents of Lubbock to gain a firsthand understanding.
Hernandez explained to McBrayer that many individuals lack knowledge and accurate information regarding this topic. She emphasized that when people begin with ignorance and misinformation, their outcomes and understanding reflect these initial foundations.
According to Bethany Luna, a lesbian business owner, she has faced harassment from members of her community in recent years. Whenever she organizes events related to LGBTQ+, she experiences threats and encounters protesters. Unfortunately, her young daughter is exposed to rumors at school that her family is destined for damnation. During a Pride event, Bethany recalls feeling uneasy as protestors with holstered guns shouted at attendees, creating a highly uncomfortable atmosphere.
Luna expressed her concern about people’s emotional and physical safety, highlighting the unique questions they have to face. While the council members are exempt, Luna pointed out that Mayor Tray Payne never has to question whether his house will be targeted for a shooting or if he will face judgment for simply walking outside with his family.
At the time of this report, there have been no statements released by either the city council or Mayor Payne regarding the issue.
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