Tag Archives: Houston

JMG reader Mike writes: The City of Houston has now posted the draft language of the ERO (Equal Rights Ordinance) on its web site. A large coalition of LGBT and non-LGBT groups contributed to getting this ordinance to this point, including pressuring the Mayor and Council to include private employers in the non-discrimination provisions. LGBT organizations included Equality Texas, HRC, …

The Houston Chronicle reports: The father of one of two women whose bodies were found last week on the Bolivar Peninsula was arrested Thursday in connection with the deaths. James Larry Cosby, 46, of Houston, is charged with two counts of tampering with evidence in the deaths of his daughter, Britney Cosby, and Crystal Jackson, according to the Galveston County …

A Houston lesbian couple has been found murdered. The bodies of Britney Cosby and Crystal Jackson, both 24, were found next to a dumpster outside the Fisherman’s Cove store in the 700 block of State Highway 87. Deputies say the women were involved in a relationship. A beer deliveryman found the victims around 7:30 a.m. when he took out some …

From the official press release issued by Houston: Mayor Annise Parker and her long-time partner, First Lady Kathy Hubbard, were joined in marriage today in a sunset ceremony held at a private home in Palm Springs, California. A small gathering of family and friends, including the mayor’s mother and Ms. Hubbard’s sister, were on hand for the exchange of vows, …

Late last month Lambda Legal filed suit against the city of Houston and Mayor Annise Parker in order to force the reinstatement of the same-sex partner benefits ordered by Parker.  Some folks are apparently confused by that action so yesterday Lambda posted an explanation. Some have asked why we would sue the Mayor and the City, when they have taken …

Houston Mayor Annise Parker had previously said that she wouldn’t marry her partner of 23 years until it becomes legal in Texas.  But according to Culture Map Houston, a wedding is now planned for next month. “The world is changing so fast, maybe I won’t wait that long,” Parker said last week in a year-end interview with CultureMap when asked …

In late November, openly gay Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced that city employees who are legally married in other states were now eligible for spousal benefits. Three weeks later a judge suspended Parker’s edict pending the outcome of a lawsuit brought by local Christian leaders. Yesterday Lambda Legal sued the city in order to reinstate the benefits ordered by Parker. …

They’re going nuts over in Teabagistan. Enjoy.

A Texas judge has issued an order suspending spousal benefits for LGBT employees of Houston. State District Judge Lisa Millard issued the order in response to a lawsuit filed by Harris County GOP Chair Jared Woodfill, on behalf of plaintiffs Jack Pidgeon and Larry Hicks. The order from Millard, a Republican, says the city must stop providing the benefits pending …

“In Texas, the state of the law on this issue could not be any clearer when it comes to the definition of marriage, when it comes to the state of Texas giving recognition to same-sex arrangements. All of those are banned in our state. There’s no question about that. So it is outrageous that Mayor Parker and the city of …

Lone Star Q reports that Houston Mayor Annise Parker today announced that city employees who are legally married in other states are now eligible for spousal benefits. From the press release issued by Parker’s office: A 2001 voter-approved City Charter amendment has previously been relied upon as the basis for prohibiting the granting of same-sex benefits. However, the amendment specifically …

Annise Parker was reelected to her third and final term as mayor of Houston yesterday. Parker claimed victory after her biggest challenger, former Houston City Attorney Ben Hall, took to a stage minutes before to concede the race. “I love this city. Tonight, I feel like it loves me back, so thank you for the very warm welcome. Thank you. …

From the editorial board of the Houston Chronicle: Does anyone else miss Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison? We’re not sure how much difference one person could make in the toxic, chaotic, hyperpartisan atmosphere in Washington, but if we could choose just one it would be Hutchison, whose years of service in the Senate were marked by two things sorely lacking in …

“I do think it’s important for GLBTs to stay engaged in both parties. But not at that at the price of your self-respect and dignity. And it is great to be a gay Republican and to say, ‘My party has left me behind. I can’t support it this time until they get on the right track. I support this, this …

New York City.San Francisco.Chicago.Seattle.Houston.Minneapolis.

As I mentioned yesterday, openly gay Houston Mayor Annise Parker provided the welcoming speech for this weekend’s convention of LGBT journalists. Miami Herald reporter Steve Rothaus recorded the speech. His clip description: Houston Mayor Annise Parker speaks at the 2012 National LGBT Editor/Blogger Convening about being elected to a second term; her longtime life partner Kathy Hubbard and being co-chair …

Here’s a shot of this weekend’s 2012 Haas Convening, where LGBT journalists gathered in Houston for training and updates on the movement’s latest issues. Attending were such well-known bloggers as Jeremy Hooper (Good As You), Bil Browning (Bilerico Project), David Badash (New Civil Rights Movement), Rod McCollum (Rod 2.0), Zack Ford (Think Progress), Noah Michelson (HuffPo Gay Voices) and Scott …

We had a great turnout of handsome guys for the JMG meetup in Houston last night! Too many names to remember, save the very notable presence of openly gay Fort Worth Councilman Joel Burns, whose poignant anti-bullying video went globally viral in October 2010. Fantastic to meet him and all of the rest of you! Also: Ow, my head! Thanks …

This neat circular walkway thingy connects the two Chevron towers I posted this morning. It’s killing me that I’ve only gotten to see a couple of blocks of a deserted downtown Houston, but we’re here less than 48 hours. When you add up flight time, airport time, all day meetings, planned in-house meals…well, you hardly get a chance to stick …