Often when being interviewed by gay publications and media sites, I'm asked "Why Dallas?" I must confess, the first time I was posed with this question I was at Throckmorton Mining Company - a local gay club in Dallas (now closed).
He was a tall, slender man with big beady eyes and a freshly shaved head. His British accent caught me by surprise as he leaned over and shouted above the bumping and beating music that was coming from the dance floor. "I hate Texas!" I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
It must be noted that I'm born and raised in Texas. Ask any native about the lone star state and they all will answer with a great sense of pride in their voice. We Texans are very proud of where we live.
"Why do you hate Texas?" I asked. "Where are you from?"
The tall Texan-hater shouted "London! All of your laws are so backwards here. You still discriminate against the gay population. I mean, look who your president is!"
He was right. I couldn't really argue with any of that. Our laws are quite antiquated, but not much different from most other states in our union when it relates to GLBT rights. Our president...alright, he's got me there. George W. Bush. But, hey! I didn't vote for him, nor did any of my family or friends that live in Texas. Sadly, when the general population thinks of W, they think of Texas.
"Okay, yes. So, our president sucks," I responded. "But, there are great places in Texas that are quite gay friendly, like Dallas."
"I don't see how Dallas is different from any other city in Texas."
The conversation was heating up. I was about to embark on a debate that had no business touting its ugly head in a loud club. But, I will always defend my opinion, especially when it can be backed up with facts. More importantly, as gay as I am, I would never live in a city where I didn't feel comfortable about my sexuality. I was about to let him have it.
"Dallas is a great city! I'm originally from Houston, but I will now and always call Dallas my home. We've got so much to offer. You know we have the largest urban arts district in the nation? It takes up 19 city blocks in downtown. We have this fabulous gay strip that you're partying on right now. Dallas is one of few cities in the nation that even has a gay strip." I told him how I once lived in St. Louis where you had to drive several blocks to get from one gay bar to the next.
"Well, you may have a few gay bars along a street, but that doesn't make a city gay-friendly."
"Oh, but we are," I rebutted. "The City of Dallas does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. It's written right into the City's EEO statement. The City even offers domestic partner benefits to its employees. And, I can assure you that if the City didn't welcome gay residents and travelers with open arms, then we certainly wouldn't have a public marketing campaign targeted directly to the GLBT community, nor would our mayor march in our pride parade."
I went on to explain about how former mayor Laura Miller helped move gay rights initiatives to the front of the line while she was in office. I also explained how Ed Oakley, an openly gay city councilman, ran for mayor and lost only by a small margin. I even told him about Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez, the only female Sheriff in the state of Texas who is also openly gay and Hispanic...a triple threat.
I added "Dallas is a very diverse city. You can walk out of this bar holding my hand right now, kiss me on the street and not a single person will even care."
"Texas still has a long way to go. Talk to me again when you are able to marry." And, with that, the bald-headed eagle walked away.
It can be tiring defending your city. There are so many false perceptions about Dallas. But, I must attribute all of our great progress in the GLBT community to the volunteers that came before me.
Alan Ross and the Dallas Tavern Guild took over a struggling Dallas pride parade in the early 80's and turned it into a very successful event that attracts thousands (Dallas is celebrating our 25th anniversary pride celebration in 2008).
Many activists stood outside Crossroads Market in the late 60's and 70's picketing and demanding equal rights for the GLBT community in Dallas. And, we can not ever forget the numerous nonprofit service organizations that give back to our community, such as the Resource Center of Dallas, AIDS Arms and the Black Tie Dinner - the largest GLBT black tie affair in the US. I even joined the efforts of Razzle Dazzle Dallas (now out of business), helping coordinate events in our community - events that donated proceeds to local AIDS charities and gay youth organizations.
Yes, Dallas truly is a city that inspires big ideas; a city that offers a great amount of support and inclusion among our gay community. And, it can only get better. We may not have the right to marry today. But, just think back to June 26, 2003 when the Texas Supreme Court ruled that Texas sodomy laws are unconstitutional (Lawrence & Garner vs. Texas). We are making strides. It's only a matter of time.
For more information about how the City of Dallas reaches out to the GLBT community, please visit www.glbtdallas.com or contact SRJ Marketing Communications at www.srj.net.
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