All seats were filled for the June 8 Taylor City Council meeting as Mayor Brandt Rydell, wearing a Taylor Pride T-shirt, read a proclamation affirming June 24, as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Day in Taylor.
This is the second year the city has made a Pride Day proclamation. Taylor PRIDE President Denise Rodgers said the city’s initiative last year caused surrounding towns to follow Taylor’s lead, but there is tragedy mixed with hope.
“In the past two weeks, cities all around Central Texas have received proclamations for Pride Day in their cities,” she said. “In the same weeks, Taylor Pride has had conversations with terrified parents who are making exit plans for their children to leave Taylor and the state of Texas. And we’ve tried to console a grieving mother who had to bury her queer son less than two months ago right here in our community.”
Taylor native Jose Orta said that Taylor was the catalyst for other communities presenting proclamations for Pride.
“They are looking to us for leadership,” he said. “They really believe that Taylor is basically paving the way for better things.”
Orta read a portion of the proclamation. He said it was a powerful message coming from a local government.
“Everyone should be able to live without fear of prejudice, discrimination, violence and hatred based on race, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation,” he read.
“This proclamation shows that your commitment to our community,” Orta said. “It is a promise that you are working hard to make Taylor a safe and healthy place for all of us.”
To some, the proclamation was a sign of support towards inclusion by the council.
“We moved here right before the ice storm. I started to witness the help of Taylorites right away. When situations happened like no gas, no heat, no electricity, we received help and we helped others. We love our city. We call Taylor home,” said Alfonso Cavazos-Geluso, who came accompanied by husband Anthony.
T-shirts adorned with crosses vied with others sporting rainbow graphics at the meeting as the majority of speakers during citizen’s communication commended the city on its stand and support of Taylor PRIDE. However, there were attendees who opposed the proclamation.
“Claiming to be wise, they became fools,” said Shane Allen, pastor of Crossroads Assembly of God Church in Taylor.
Allen read scripture about homosexuality during public comment.
“We don’t have to die for our sins,” he said. “It’s our choice. We can escape that.”
Allen talked about his transition to Christianity in his 20s, and how it filled his life with hope. Another public commenter said in his 20s he was filled with fear and despair because of his experience with the same religion.
The proclamation came earlier in the same meeting where city council approved a list of city-adopted events, including the Christmas parade which has previously spurred confrontations between the LGBTQ-plus community and religious group Taylor Area Ministerial Alliance.
