I was standing in a parking lot on Gaston between Abrams and La Vista when I heard the shouts of protesters. Following my ears led me to the Lakewood Country Club, where eight or so protesters stood outside the front gates waving rainbow flags, holding signs and echoing megaphone chants.
At first I thought perhaps the group was protesting the club’s policy on membership for gay couples, who are allowed to join as individuals but not as a family because membership privileges are extended only to spouses if they are legally married, as defined by Texas state law. (And as we all know, Texas law does not allow gay marriage.)
It turns out the protesters did have a beef about gay marriage, but it was with Mayor Mike Rawlings, who is speaking at the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon at the club today, rather than with the club itself.
“No more/ Discrimination/ Not in Texas/ Not the nation! Mayor Rawlings, do you hear us?” This is what the protesters repeated, loudly and persistently, as chamber members and the mayor dined inside the club.
The protesters are with Get Equal Texas, and decided to take a vocal stance today as a result of the mayor’s decision yesterday about a gay rights resolution supporting both marriage equality and anti-discrimination in employment, which was set to be on the June 12 city council agenda. It was a symbolic resolution that put pressure on state and U.S. government, protester Daniel Cates says.
The resolution was proposed by Oak Cliff Councilman Scott Griggs, and Rawlings this week was quoted by DMN columnist Jacqueline Floyd (behind the paywall) as promising to vote in favor of the resolutions. He took issue, however, with Griggs’ timing as the resolutions were announced less than two weeks before the May 11 council election in which Griggs faced another incumbent, Councilwoman Delia Jasso.
Jasso, who lost the election, was one of the resolution’s supporters, but this week pulled her support, and Rawlings’ chief of staff told the DMN that “because Griggs’ resolution lacks the needed five votes, the mayor has no intention of placing it on an upcoming agenda.”
“The mayor said it was a misuse of council time,” protester Daniel Cates says.
The protesters do not agree. People driving by seemed to support them, too, as many slowed down to honk and wave or give a thumbs up.
“We’ve mostly had people honking and waving,” Cates says. “Only one guy stopped his car, got out and said, ‘Get a job!’ “
