For the last several weeks we’ve been putting together what is know as “The official guide to Dallas Pride” — a publication of the Dallas Tavern Guild that is distributed inside Dallas Voice in advance of the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade. One of the features that appears regularly in the annual Pride guide is a letter from the Dallas City Council congratulating the Tavern Guild, which puts on the festival and parade.
This year, for the third consecutive year, the letter is signed by 14 of the 15 council members, including the mayor. And for the third consecutive year, the lone holdout who refuses to sign the letter is Councilwoman Vonciel Jones Hill, who has also refused to ride on the city float in the parade.
Although we’ve never asked Ms. Hill specifically about the letter, here’s the explanation she gave us in 2009 for not appearing in the parade:
“I won’t be participating [this year], and based on my present beliefs, I won’t be participating in the future,” Hill said. “There’s no reason I should be castigated for that.”
Asked what those beliefs are, Hill said: “I believe that all people are loved by God, all people are created equal under God, but there are acts that God does not bless. It does not mean the person is any less God’s child. I’m entitled to stand for what I believe, and I don’t appreciate anyone castigating me for standing for what I believe.”
Maybe Hill is right. Maybe we shouldn’t castigate her for her religious beliefs. Given that redistricting has put one of the city’s most heavily gay neighborhoods in her new district, maybe instead we should just vote her out of office!
Read the council’s letter after the jump — and in case you’re wondering, the Pride guide will be distributed inside the Aug. 31 and Sept. 14 editions of Dallas Voice.
