In a setback for LGBT advocates, Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey said today that she opposes adding transgender protections to the county’s nondiscrimination policy.
Dickey, a Republican who represents part of Oak Lawn, was considered a possible third vote in favor of adding gender identity/expression to the policy, which covers the county’s 7,000 employees. However, Dickey appeared to erase those hopes this morning, when she came out against the proposal in an interview after the Commissioners Court’s regular meeting.
Dickey told Instant Tea she believes the Commissioners Court’s recent decision to add “sexual orientation” to the policy was “overdue.” However, she said she thinks adding gender identity/expression to the policy could lead to adding “overweight people” or “people with diabetes.”
“I won’t be voting for a special protected class,” Dickey said. “You’ve got to stop somewhere. … It becomes a legal nightmare.”
In response to follow-up questions, Dickey said, “I’m not going to argue with you about it.”
County Judge Clay Jenkins and Commissioner Dr. Elba Garcia, both Democrats who support adding transgender protections for county employees, need a third vote to get the amendment passed. Commissioner John Wiley Price, the third member of the court’s Democratic majority, said after today’s meeting that his position on the issue is unchanged, meaning he’s still undecided.
Jenkins said he expects to receive an opinion he requested from the District Attorney’s Office about adding transgender protections by the end of this week or early next week. However, he said he won’t put the item on the court’s agenda until he has a third vote.
“I think these public speakers bringing things to our attention is helpful,” Jenkins said.
Travis Gasper, a board member for Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, and Omar Narvaez, who was representing Lambda Legal, both spoke in favor of adding gender identity/expression to the policy during public comments at today’s meeting. (WATCH VIDEO ABOVE.) It marked the fourth consecutive week in which LGBT advocates have addressed the court.
Dr. Garcia, a longtime LGBT ally who served on the Dallas City Council, told Instant Tea after the meeting that she can’t make any promises but is working hard to find a third vote.
“I really feel confident,” Garcia said. “You have to hope.”
Ken Upton, a senior staff attorney for Lambda Legal, said later that there are a few problems with Dickey’s statements.
For one, Upton said, gender identity/expression is not a “special protected class.” All people have a sexual orientation and a gender identity, he said, just like everyone has a race.
Upton added that people with diabetes are protected against discrimination by the Americans with Disabilities Act. And he said overweight people could be added to the county policy if discrimination against them is perceived as a problem, but generally it is not. Some overweight people could be protected under disability law, but being overweight isn’t considered an identity trait like gay or transgender, Upton said.
Below is contact info for all five commissioners:
County Judge Clay Jenkins – 214-653-7949
Email: Clay.Jenkins@DallasCounty.org
Dist. 1 Maurine Dickey – 214-653-7552
Email: Maurine.Dickey@DallasCounty.org
Dist. 2 Mike Cantrell – 214-653-6100
Email: MCantrell@DallasCounty.org
Dist. 3 John Wiley Price – 214-653-6671
Email: John.Price@DallasCounty.org
Dist. 4 Dr. Elba Garcia – 214-653-6670
Email: Elba.GarciaDDS@DallasCounty.org
Dickey’s response, “You’ve got to stop somewhere” is really telling. What she probably means is, “look you people are getting a few scraps and should be happy”. Like so many other white, privileged heterosexuals, she sees the world through her hetero-normative filter. Her attitude is condescending and insulting.
Very proud of Travis Gaspar and Omar Narvaez speaking out on this very important equality issue on behalf of our community. Kudos to you two gentlemen!
She’s always been that way. During her last election campaign, she had a billboard promoting “traditional family values”. And yet, we support her family by voting Dickey’s BBQ as “best bbq” in the Reader’s Voice Awards. We need to quit supporting these establishments!
Thanks to the Dallas Voice, John Wright and Rafael McDonell,strategic communications & Programs manager with Resource Center Dallas for keeping this important issue in the publics eye. The journalistic doggedness to elicite a statement from Commissioner Maureen Dickey, that was telling, gives the general public and LGBT community a sense of who’s who in on this issue. It also speaks to the huge need for education and diversity training needed at every level of city, county, state and federal legislation. And thanks to the gentlemen from Stonewall and Lambda legal for taking the time from their busy day to address the Dallas County Commissioners. Dr. Oliver Blumer, Vice Chair, Transgender Educatiin Network of Texas.
Agree with MW, consider the boycott instated!!!! I think we should have a Yellow Cup Burning and/or destroying. I mean, we all have at least a dozen. And in my office, I know I can round up at least 50+
Why isn’t John Wiley Price being raked over the coals, too? If the issue is so simple, then why is it taking him upwards of three weeks to decide his position on the matter? At least Maureen had the gumption to tell us where she stands. Maureen has a right to her opinion, and her vote (as did that of every other member of commissioners court – Democrat and Republican) effectively protected 90%+ of the GLBT community working for Dallas County. Is is perfect? No.
But, Maureen can’t be deemed an enemy simply because she doesn’t agree with 100% of what’s being advocated. I’ve always found Maureen very open and honest when I’ve visited with her, and I respect the fact that she has taken a position on the matter. It’s a lot more honest than “Our Man Downtown” who is pretending to be in deep consideration on the topic.
Look, I hope it goes through, but I also know that demonizing Maureen Dickey doesn’t get us any closer to a solution, nor does it solidify her support for other GLB issues that may come up over the next two years.
You can’t support the LGB without supporting the T.. plain and simple. You don’t get to pick and choose- either all people are equal or not, we have to stop leaving the trans community behind.
Justin…John Wiley Price isn’t comparing transsexualism to being overweight like Maureen Dickey is…
DSC is spot on, much too often the Trans part of The LBGT community does get left behind.
Heck even some ‘allies’ are all for protecting the gay and lesbian aspects and I’m all in favor of that, while not going nearly as far to protect us.
I don’t live in the area, but was made aware of this via facebook. My heart goes out to my trans brothers and sisters in the area and it’s my sincere hope that this gets passed.. with or without Maurine Dickey’s support.
I will never forget the three summers in the 70s that I worked at Dickey’s BBQ while home from college. Commissioner Maurine Dickey’s husband, Roland, was one of the owners of the family business founded by their Father. I was a cashier and part of my responsibilities were to help with salad prep in the kitchen.
Roland took great pride in acting and speaking disrespectfully to the Black employees and the women. Roland Dickey was flat out the most racist and sexist man I have ever met. He was physically unattractive and not very smart but he had money and later went on to chair the Dallas County Republican Party.
The Dickeys are typical of the kind of conservatives that run Dallas and Dallas County. They are not going to vote for anything other than a conservative party line, even if it means turning their backs on a gay son or lesbian granddaughter. Thank God that Mrs. Dickey is not running for re-election; Dallas County deserves better than these bigoted people.
Keep in mind that Dickey’s BBQ is a national brand and each restaurant is locally owned. When you are out looking for a place to eat or shopping a caterer for a party, remember that Roland and Maurine have financially supported politicians like Pete Sessions and Florence Shapiro and more than 50 years of elitist Republican party nonsense.
Kris, thanks for sharing your story which illuminates a legacy of intolerance in this particular family. Dickey’s…just say no.