On Tuesday, a Dallas congressman and his boyfriend got engaged at the Texas State Capitol in Austin.
After being sworn in on the opening day of the legislative session, state representative Venton Jones, a Democrat and one of the first out Black homosexual men ever elected to the Texas Legislature in November 2022, proposed to his partner, Gregory Scott Jr.
During Tuesday’s state House recess, Jones proposed to Scott and proposed marriage. According to a video posted on social media by WFAA-TV reporter Jason Whitely, Scott answered yes and brushed away his emotions as Jones presented him with an engagement ring.
I made a new oath today to serve my community with love, courage, and conviction. In a statement to local news agencies, Jones stated, “I made a promise to the person who has stood beside me through every step of this journey.” This moment serves as a reminder that love overcomes all obstacles during a time when our love and very existence are called into question, frequently in the hallways of this very building.
Jones claimed that he and his fiancé are evidence that progress is inexorable and that hate cannot change the reality of who we are.
Texas has contemplated scores of laws that would limit the rights of LGBTQ individuals, as Jones hinted in his statement. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, Republican lawmakers introduced 55 such legislation in 2023, the most of any state in the nation, during the state’s most recent legislative session. Six became laws, most of which targeted trans teenagers by preventing them from accessing certain transition-related medical care or from playing on school sports teams that reflect their gender identity.
Jones added in his statement that he intends to safeguard all Texans by using his authority as the vice chair of the LGBTQ Caucus and whip of the House Democratic Caucus.
According to him, our narrative serves as a reminder that love can and will always triumph over hate, and our love represents resiliency.