TX Progressive Alliance Texan Of The Year: Fort Worth Councilman Joel Burns

The Texas Progressive Alliance on Wednesday named Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns as its 2010 Texan of the Year.


Burns, Fort Worth's District 9 City Councilman, received international attention and acclaim in October after delivering a speech at a Forth Worth City Council meeting concerning suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth as part of Dan Savage's "It Gets Better" campaign.


In his speech, Burns spoke eloquently and emotionally about his experiences as a teen facing bullying in Crowley because of his sexual orientation. Burns' speech, which became an internet sensation, resulted in interviews on CNN, NPR's All Things Considered, an in-studio interview with the Today Show's Matt Lauer, and an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.


"Joel Burns' speech did more to raise awareness of the difficulties LGBT youth in Texas face on a daily basis perhaps more than anything else this year," said Vince Leibowitz, Chair of the Texas Progressive Alliance. "His courageous action in delivering this speech was worthy of recognition, and progressives everywhere should salute him," Leibowitz continued.


TPA Vice Chair Charles Kuffner of Houston echoed these sentiments. "As progressives, we stand for equality for all people. It is rare that public officials have the courage to do what Joel Burns did," he noted.


Burns, the first openly gay municipal elected official in Tarrant County, was first elected in 2007.


Burns joins past TPA Texans of the year including Houston Mayor Annise Parker (2009); the Harris County Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign (2008); the House Democratic Leadership Team of State Rep. Jim Dunnam, State Rep. Garnet Coleman, and State Rep. Pete Gallego (2007); and Carolyn Boyle and Texas Parent PAC (2006).


In addition to giving Burns its top honors, the Alliance also named Dr. Al Armendariz, Administrator for Region 6 of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Texas DREAMers as Honorable Mentions.


Armendariz was recognized for cracking down on polluters in Texas in spite of immense political pressure from state leaders and corporations. Armendariz issued the first Emergency Imminent and Substantial Endangerment Order against a natural gas operator in Parker County which caused high levels of methane in private water wells.


The Texas DREAMers--students and activists involved in supporting the DREAM Act through peaceful protest and other means, were recognized for their work in Texas which has included everything from organizing phone banks to call and persuade U.S. Senators, to staging sit-ins and demonstrations at the offices of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. The group has even staged hunger strikes in support of its efforts.


The Texas Progressive Alliance is a coalition of more than 50 of Texas' most prominent netroots activists, blogs, and bloggers united to help further the progressive movement in Texas. Founded in 2006, the TPA is the largest state-based coalition of netroots activists in the United States and was instrumental in bringing Netroots Nation to Texas in 2008. 

DADT is DEAD!

Ding dong the wicked witch is dead! I totally feel like the friend of Dorothy I am right now. Don't Ask Don't Tell has been repealed on a Senate vote of 65-31. Now all of our men and women in uniform can ask, tell, stay mum, or whatever, just like every red blooded American should be able to do, without fear of losing their job.

Unfortunately, we still have 31 Senators who voted no. Two of them were Texas's very own John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison. Really? Come on, even North Carolina's Richard Burr voted for repeal. And that either took some balls on his part, or he was simply confused like most days after eating too many Krispy Kremes.

What is it going to take to get through to Republicans like the ones that fall on the side of the 31, that LGBT people are people? We are not sub human. We eat. We breathe. We die. We work. And some of us even get elected by their peers to sit beside these same stalwarts. Not necessarily in that order.

President Franklin D Roosevelt once said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". The fear remains in the heads of these people and not in reality. I can only hope that the next generation of Senators have these fears alleviated by seeing no harm has come to our country by moving forward with these baby steps in our law.

I will enjoy my holiday in knowing that I move one step closer to being equal and someone else's fear is removed.

Fart Fairies Contaminate Parker County Well Water

Our fellow TPA cohorts at Whosplayin, have an interesting spotting of the elusive fart fairy. In case you were unaware, if you have well water in the Barnett Shale drilling area of Texas, these magical creatures can just come around whenever they please and fart in your drinking water! After all, how else could it possibly be set on fire when coming out of your tap?

These brownie-esque creatures have recently been spotted in Parker County, leaving their odors wherever they see fit, even near the clean gas drilling wells!

When asked to comment during a recent stop in Mineral Wells, Santa Claus denied rumors of these so called fair fairies. "Fairies? That is crazy talk. Next thing you know, these people 'round here will be blaming the local gas drilling companies for their problems."