Jon Nelson, center left, shakes Councilman Joel Burns’ hand during the Jon Nelson Day proclamation presentation at Fort Worth City Council. (Via Facebook)
The Fort Worth City Council issued a proclamation Tuesday declaring it “Jon Nelson Day” in the city to honor the local LGBT leader.
Nelson, who worked on the city’s Diversity Task Force after the Rainbow Lounge raid and later helped start the city’s LGBT advocacy group Fairness Fort Worth, moved to Dallas’ Oak Cliff neighborhood earlier this month.
Nelson has lived in Fort Worth for 38 years and has been involved in numerous city organizations and commissions for at least 30 of those years. He said city leaders wanted to recognize his contributions to the city over that period.
“I’m honored,” Nelson said about the proclamation. “It was a surprise to me that I got that but I was honored to get it.”
Openly gay Councilman Joel Burns shook Nelson’s hand during the council presentation.
“I am honored to help proclaim today ‘Jon Nelson Day’ in Fort Worth and thank him for his many years of service to our neighborhoods and people as a founder of I-CARE, of Fairness Fort Worth and others, and his service on FW Plan Commission, Parks Commission, Diversity Task Force and others,” Burns wrote on Facebook. “While we will miss having you in Fort Worth we know we can still call on your wisdom, friendship and advice.”
Nelson currently serves as president of FFW. The board will vote on its new president Thursday night. Over the past year, the board has grown to about 15 members, he said.
“There are enough people in Fort Worth who can be president if Fairness Fort Worth,” Nelson said.
He will remain on the board for a while to help with the transition.
Nelson said he decided to move to Dallas earlier this year because it was time for a change, but said he still has strong connections to Cowtown with friendships he’s developed over the years.
As for getting involved with causes in Dallas, Nelson said that may happen in time just like his work in Fort Worth began.
“If it’s like anything else I’ve ever done, it’ll be a knee-jerk reaction,” he said.
