By Dan Graney, Guest Contributor The 2014 midterm elections were essentially a repeat of the 2010 midterms with far worse consequences for Democrats and a progressive agenda. Last night’s GOP sweep resulted in Republican control of the U.S. Senate, the largest Republican majority in the U.S. House in decades and surprising Republican gubernatorial victories in…
Dignity S.A. sponsors talk by controversial Irish priest
Dignity San Antonio is sponsoring a talk by a controversial Irish priest and author whose views on homosexuality, contraception, celibacy for priests and other topics have nearly gotten him excommunicated. The Rev. Tony Flannery of Galway, Ireland is a popular writer and speaker who publicly questioned church doctrine to the point that in 2012 he…
Texas mental health professionals call for end to conversion therapy
Five Texas mental health professionals filed rule-making petitions on October 31 calling on state licensing boards to outlaw conversion therapy which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation. The petitions were filed by Dr. Bert E. Johansson, M.D. (a physician), H. Michael Cunningham, Ph.D. (a psychologist), Katy Koonce, LCSW (a licensed clinical social worker), Jeff…
Awards and special guest on tap at annual HRC Gala
Organizers of the San Antonio HRC Gala & Silent Auction announced this week that State Representative Mike Villarreal will be honored with the group’s 2014 Equality Award on November 8. “Rep. Villarreal has been a champion of equality in the Texas House of Representatives for the seven terms he has served, voting against anti-marriage and…
Staged reading recalls days when military police patrolled S.A. gay bars
The Jump-Start Performance Company on November 13 will present “Off Limits,” a staged reading of a play based on the transcript from a military hearing held at Brooks Air Force Base in June of 1973. The hearing was one of several convened to determine whether the San Antonio Country, a local gay bar at the…
5th Circuit court to hear Texas marriage case in January
Despite the hope of LGBT activists that the case would be heard sooner, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans has tentatively scheduled arguments challenging Texas’ same-sex marriage ban for early next year, during the week of January 5. Mark Phariss and his partner Vic Holmes of Plano, along with…
Activists call for resignation of Tobin programming director
A San Antonio arts activist is calling for the resignation of an official from the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts saying he is guilty of unprofessional conduct after publicly berating a local gay playwright. An email initiated by poet and educator Ben V. Olguin calls for the resignation of Aaron Zimmerman, senior director of…
W.D. Deli owners to receive HRC Community Ally Award
The San Antonio chapter of the Human Rights Campaign announced on October 25 the selection of Wayne D. Beers and Michael R. Bobo as recipients of their Community Ally Award which will be presented at the HRC Gala and Silent Auction on November 8. Following is the announcement released by HRC: Local business owners, Wayne…
AG permits release of recordings in AT&T NDO complaint
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot’s office has ruled that audio recordings submitted by a transgender man in his nondiscrimination claim against AT&T can be released to the public. The recordings are among documents submitted to the City of San Antonio by Matthew Hileman and his attorney Justin Nichols in support of Hileman’s claim that he…
New Braunfels councilwoman under fire for suggesting programs for LGBT youth
New Braunfels City Councilwoman Aja Edwards, who is openly lesbian, came under fire recently after she posted a comment on the Facebook page of a group called Moms of New Braunfels about creating programs for LGBT youth in the city. According to an op-ed piece by Mike Reynolds in TxCitizen.com, Edward’s posted the following on…