Tarrant commissioners call proposed honor for LGBTQ+ Health a ‘political stunt’
Tarrant County commissioners declined to commend the HELP Center for LGBTQ+ Health’s 30 years of service with a resolution at their meeting Tuesday. Republican County Judge Tim O’Hare said the proposal was an organized political stunt.
Two of the Republicans who voted against the recognition said they could not in good faith associate the county seal with the HIV prevention organization due to their promotion of gender-affirming care and certain holidays like National Kink Day.
The resolution was proposed by Democratic Commissioner Alisa Simmons to celebrate the organization’s three decades of work to stop the spread of HIV and other transmissible diseases.
The HELP Center for LGBTQ+ Health was founded in 1994 by two Catholic nuns and the mother of an AIDS victim, according to the drafted resolution.
In Tarrant County, resolutions are a formal statement of recognition, congratulations or honor. They do not equate to policy or law.
Other resolutions passed on Tuesday included a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, recognition of Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County for delivering the 30 million meals and recognition of Mayor William Tate for 50 years of service to the city of Grapevine.
The drafted resolution states the county commends the HELP Center for LGBTQ+ Health “for its outstanding service, compassionate care, and enduring contributions to the health, dignity, and wellness of the people of Tarrant County.”
Krause, O’Hare and fellow Republican Manny Ramirez voted against the resolution. Democrat Commissioner Roderick Miles and Simmons voted in favor.
O’Hare said the resolution was a political stunt organized by Simmons, before telling her “all that you ever do here in political theater.”
O’Hare said he could go on and on about what the HELP Center for LGBTQ+ Health has promoted, but he specifically named National Kink Day, International Non-Binary People’s Day, Polyamory Day and a fundraiser for out of state travel for healthcare.
“This court is focused on cutting taxes, improving county services, strong public safety and bettering the lives of our citizens,” O’Hare said. “It’s not the business of this court to put the county’s name and seal behind a divisive social agenda that glorifies a group that supports transitioning children.”
Krause said his dissension comes down to the HELP Center’s gender-affirming care, which he said does more harm than good.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, gender-affirming care is “a broad approach to health care and support that recognizes and respects an individual’s gender identity, ensuring that all individuals can live healthy, fulfilling lives by addressing their unique needs.”
Krause said he is concerned gender-affirming care does irreparable harm, especially for minors.
“I can’t in good conscience put the county seal or the county furniture behind an organization that seeks to actually do what I think is more damage to children and more damage to those than if you just kind of allow them to kind of put through that gender dysphoria until they go through puberty themselves without trying to stop it,” Krause said.
Over 30 people signed up to speak in favor or opposition of a Tarrant County resolution recognizing the HELP Center for LGBTQ+ Health. Of those who spoke on Tuesday, roughly 25 were in favor of the resolution. About five people were opposed.
The speakers in favor supported the resolution because the center provides help to a minority group at no cost and, in their eyes, the center deserves the recognition.
DeeJay Johannessen, CEO of the HELP Center, said the mission has always been to promote health, prevent disease and care for the people who have nowhere else to turn.
Johannessen said the organization helped more than 7,000 Texans, delivering $70 million worth of medication, medical care, and support services free of charge. He said the work prevents more than 200 new HIV infections per year.
“Recently, there’s been inflammatory and inaccurate statements made about our organization that misinformation does not change the truth. I am reminded of the scripture, John 8:32 ‘Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.’”
Those in opposition cited religious beliefs that homosexuality is wrong.
“What is most egregious about this mendacious statement is the diabolical attempt at skewing the teaching of the Catholic Church, an attempt to yoke [one of the nuns] to LGBT ideology,” Tyler Romaguera said. “Let me conclude, then, by briefly articulating what the Catholic Church actually teaches: all sexual acts outside of marriage are inherently sinful. Marriage is a union of one man and one woman.”
When the court voted to reject the resolution, many audience members mumbled their disappointment while holding up signs that read “Really?” and “Shame.”