Early voting for the June 10 runoff election begins on Tuesday, May 30 and ends Tuesday, June 6. Polling sites include the Bexar County Justice Center along with scores of other locations. The runoff includes races for mayor and for City Council seats in Districts 1, 2, 6, 8, 9 and 10. Below is the…
Dancing as a Cure for Poison Ivy (Taylor)
Almost one hundred people from the LGBT and allied community brought their protest to Mayor Ivy R. Taylor’s home for 45 minutes of joyous dancing in Dignowity Park on the evening of May 27. There were no speeches or angry words. Just the sound of music and laughter — all of which took place across…
SA Mom Organizes ‘Gay Pride Flash Mob’ to Dance in Park Across From Mayor’s House
With the mayoral election just two weeks away, one local activist is inviting the LGBT and allied community to participate in a flash mob dance in Dignowity Park across the street from Mayor Ivy R. Taylor’s house. The May 27 event is being organized by Rosey Abuabara who says it is meant to be a…
In Mayor’s Former District, Council Candidates Support the NDO
Four years ago, when Mayor Ivy R. Taylor was still the City Councilwoman for District 2, she said her vote against the nondiscrimination ordinance reflected not only her beliefs but also those of her constituents. However, once Taylor became mayor her statement proved to be untrue considering that all of the leading candidates who have…
Guess Whose Political Forums Mayor Taylor Has Been Skipping
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. Mayor Ivy Taylor has earned a tense relationship with San Antonio’s LGBTQ community. The rift dates back to the 2013 battle over an equal rights ordinance here, when homophobic and transphobic backlash from religious-right groups failed to stop City Council from passing protections against discrimination based on sexual…
Stonewall Dems Ready for Candidate Endorsement Forum
Members of the Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio are getting ready for the group’s candidate endorsement forum slated for Sunday, March 26. The event, which is open to the public, marks the first for newly-elected Stonewall co-chairs Chris Forbrich and Ellen Stephens. Stonewall sent invitations to all the candidates running in the May 6 municipal…
SA Already Losing Business Because of Texas Anti-Trans Bill
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. The big business argument against the anti-trans bill brewing at the Texas legislature has been that businesses and organizations will stop coming to a state whose leaders openly discriminate against a whole group of people. While Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick, the bill’s main pusher in Austin, has called…
Mayoral Candidates at Town Hall Questioned About Anti-Trans Bill
Three mayoral candidates attending a town hall sponsored by the Rivard Report on February 7 at the Pearl Stable were asked to comment on Senate Bill 6, the anti-trans bathroom bill under consideration by the Texas Legislature. SB6 bars transgender people from using the bathroom that matches their gender identity and would prohibit local ordinances…
Ivy Taylor Missing from List of ‘Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination’
Nearly 200 mayors from across the country, including four from Texas, have joined a coalition named Mayors Against LGBT Discrimination. Missing from this list is Mayor Ivy R. Taylor of San Antonio. The Texas mayors who have joined the effort are Mike Rawlings of Dallas, Steve Adler of Austin, Curtistene McCowan of DeSoto and Sylvester…
Citing Trump and Taylor, SA Women’s Group Plans ‘March Against Hate’
Calling out what they say are similarities between President-elect Donald J. Trump and San Antonio Mayor Ivy R. Taylor, Mujeres Marcharan, organizers of the San Antonio International Woman’s Day March, are planning an event on January 21 dubbed, “From Trump to Taylor, SA Women March Against Hate.” The march, which takes place on the day…