One of the unexpected delights of living in the Houston area is that it’s a phenomenally diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. Maybe it’s our robust economic climate, with job seekers from across America and around the world coming here for work. When there’s plenty of work available, there’s less reason for resentment between sectors of the population, and everyone can go about their own business with a general sense of “live and let live”.
So it’s really not all that remarkable that our openly lesbian mayor, Annise Parker, won election and re-election, and is generally held in high regard for her achievements.
Still, there are a few folks who haven’t been able to wrap their heads around the idea that someone who does not fit their idea of “acceptable” continues to serve in a highly public role.
Yesterday’s Houston Chronicle featured an editorial by former Houston City Council member Rob Todd who noted:
Recently Mayor Annise Parker expressed her opinion that the right to marry is fundamental and should be open to all. I agree. However, it is not an opinion shared by everyone. Among those not in agreement is a vocal group led by Steve Riggle, pastor of Grace Community Church. I believe that his tone and tactics are distracting to the business of the city.
Why, I wonder, are such hateful people always affiliated with something like “grace”? But, I digress… Riggle first called for Parker to
resign after she expressed her opinion favoring same-sex marriage. Resign. Parker of course did no such thing. He then called upon the fine citizens of Houston to
oust her from office. Uh… no. That’s not happening either.
This is part of what I love about this town - we are a diverse, cosmopolitan city that not only makes room for people with all kinds of opinions, but also celebrates our diversity as one of our greatest assets.
I also love that Houstonians know how to put our differences aside when we need to focus on what matters most. Today, that is getting our economy back on track.
Of course, there are many people who would prefer that we focus on anything other than the economy (for which they have absolutely no solutions). We call these people
Republicans. They would prefer that we hone in on issues just like this: the right of two people committed to one another in a stable, loving relationship. That’s the REAL problem facing this country.
It threatens traditional marriage! You know; the sort of marriage that half of the time ends in divorce.
I really do not understand that rationale. First of all, if “traditional” marriage is so fragile that it’s threatened by other people minding their own business and living their own life, that’s a problem in itself. Why isn’t “traditional” marriage threatened by the proximity of single heterosexual people?
My favorite neighbors are two guys across the street in a long-term committed relationship. I grew up with an uncle who was in a committed relationship with his male lover for over 50 years when he became as “widowed” as anyone could be. I work with a woman who’s happily married to a female spouse.
How any of this imperils “traditional” marriage is beyond me. It obviously freaks out people like Rick Santorum, who cannot abide the thought that someone, somewhere, is in a relationship that doesn’t provide for the constant worry about unplanned pregnancy. For the moment, though, let’s not worry about Rick. He’s a self-limiting phenomenon. The unintended consequence of his homophobic rants may be that some Americans reject his harsh rhetoric as they consider the gay and lesbian people in their own lives who are perfectly good people. People like Annise Parker.
Houston’s ability to embrace diversity, including diversity of sexual orientation, is an important factor in our continued growth as the fourth largest city in America, and a haven for job seekers.
Our economy is already the envy of the nation. Thankfully, we are also positioned to reap hundreds of thousands of additional jobs and billions (yes billions) of construction dollars from several key projects for which we are being considered. A large part of our positioning is based on Parker's careful fiscal stewardship and on her great reputation and influence in Washington. The KeystoneXL pipeline, the potential relocation of the Africa Command to Ellington Field, and a slew of corporate relocations are all in our grasp. These moves would bring well-paying jobs in the technology, oil and gas, health care and construction industries. Our families need them.
The unseen advantage Houston has over other parts of the country is that we are perceived as being open and accepting to all.
It is the glue that keeps us together and that makes us the complete package for job growth. We may establish the regulatory foundation for economic growth through pro-business policies and our labor force, but we close the deal with our reputation for acceptance of others and for our work ethic.
There’s
much to love about Houston. I came here five years ago as a reluctant trailing spouse when my husband’s job brought him here. Summer heat and fire ants notwithstanding, I found the climate great most of the year, the cost of living absurdly low compared with New England, the people friendly, the culture vibrant, and the food amazing. I heard much of this from other “transplants” before I came here, and I’ve become one of many relocation ambassadors helping others make (or learn to embrace) the decision to move here. Houston is
a friendly place for a diverse population.
I’ve encountered none of the stereotypes that define Texas for many people (the idea that everyone’s a red-neck evangelical driving a pick-up truck with a gun rack and spewing hate speech). We do have some Tea Party folk, but they’re so depressed and despondent over the GOP picks that they’re mainly staying home and watching Fox News and not bothering anyone.
Now here is some interesting perspective on the author of this editorial:
During my days on City Council, I was considered an archconservative. Part of that reputation was a result of a lawsuit I filed against Mayor Lee Brown over his executive order extending equal rights to gay city employees. My concerns were parliamentary.
However, that lawsuit emboldened a small group of bigots, cloaked in the robes of false conservatism, to publicly attack, belittle and bully the local gay community.
This made our city appear hostile, backward and unaccepting, and I believe Riggle's tactics will have the same effect. To this day I regret that my actions were used by others to attack our brothers and sisters in the gay community.
One archconservative down…