- Glen Maxey
As Monday’s deadline came and went, no known openly LGBT candidates had filed to run for Texas Legislature in 2010. This means that despite electing the nation’s first out big-city mayor, Texas likely will remain one of 20 states with no openly LGBT state legislators. Glen Maxey, who served in the House from 1991 to 2003, was Texas’ first and only openly gay legislator. In 2007, there were two openly LGBT House candidates, John McClelland in Denton and Brian Thompson in Austin, both Democrats. Thompson lost in the primary to Dawnna Dukes, and McClelland lost in the general election to Myra Crownover. According to the Washington, D.C.-based Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which backs openly LGBT candidates nationwide, no significant pro-equality legislation has ever passed in a state that lacked an out legislator. But who knows, maybe Texas can become the first in 2011.
It may partly have to do with the state house districts that already have Democrats holding them are the same ones with LGBT activist groups. They also then would have no need to get replace someone. The other districts that could be targeted possibly either do not have LGBT support, or they simply aren’t winnable districts for Democrats. Another reason may be simply that not many LGBT people live in the districts that could actually look at fielding a candidate. Plus I can’t see a gay Republican winning here. Sorry, Log Cabin.
Though I do not believe that it necessary to have an LGBT person in the house to get anything done. Equality TX has done a great job of allying with legislators. Once there is a Democratic majority, things will change for the better. That very well could be the next session.
Significant pro-equality legislation can and has come from legislators regardless of their sexual orientation.