Naomi Gonzalez
In the 2010 Democratic Primary, challenger Naomi Gonzalez was gay-baited by incumbent state Rep. Norma Chavez, who famously (and redundantly) called Gonzalez “a lesbian woman.”
Gonzalez went on to upset Chavez in the primary, but would neither confirm nor deny that she is in fact gay.
Naomi Gonzalez, not to be confused with her out and proud neighbor, El Paso state Rep. Mary Gonzalez, is now in her second term in the Texas House.
Last night, Naomi Gonzalez was charged with DWI following a crash near downtown Austin that injured three people. Gonzalez was traveling at an estimated 50 mph when her BMW rear-ended a Fiat, which rolled forward and struck a woman on a bicycle, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
My question is, does this not seem like the type of reckless behavior that goes hand in hand with the self-torment of living in the closet?
It’s only speculation, of course, but here’s my point: The era when the LGBT community is willing to tolerate closeted or partially closeted elected officials — regardless of whether they are actively doing harm to the community — needs to come to an end. Because even if they aren’t harming us, they are undoubtedly harming themselves and the people around them.
If you can’t be open and honest about who you are, how can we trust you with the public’s business? And if you aren’t comfortable representing yourself as an LGBT person, how can you possibly represent me?
