Raymond Crawford
Back in October 2011 we reported on the plight of gay residents in the South Oak Cliff neighborhood of Kiestwood.
Kiestwood is currently represented by District 3 Dallas City Councilman Scott Griggs, a strong LGBT ally. But in 2011 redistricting placed Griggs in District 1, where he’ll face off against fellow LGBT ally Delia Jasso this May. Meanwhile, the heavily gay Kiestwood remains in the redrawn District 3, where Vonciel Jones Hill is the incumbent.
Hill, the lone sitting member of the Dallas City Council who has refused to appear in the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade, once explained her boycott of Dallas’ gay Pride celebration as follows: “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.”
Raymond Crawford, the gay president of the Kiestwood Historical Homeowners Association, warned in 2011 that Hill’s anti-gay views would come back to haunt her.
“The day she [Hill] comes to call to do some door-knocking or to get some votes, whether I’m the president or not, it’s going to be an interesting conversation with Councilmember Hill,” Crawford said then. “She’ll be in trouble in 2013 based on her previous statements.”
Which brings us to last Friday, the filing deadline for May elections, when Crawford sent word that longtime Mountain Creek resident Claudia Meyer is among three candidates challenging Hill.
“Claudia is a good friend of mine and would be a good friend, and solid supporter of the LGBT community at Dallas City Hall,” Crawford wrote.
The other candidates who’ve filed in District 3 are Michael J. Connally and Kermit Mitchell. Below is full press release announcing Meyer’s candidacy.
