RESOLUTION

WHEREAS,TheDemocraticcandidateforTexasSenateDistrict13willbechosenbythe
Democraticprecinctchairsinthedistrictand
WHEREAS,theselectionoftheDemocraticcandidateinSD13bytheprecinctchairsinthat
districtisnotanelection,butadecisionmadebyelectedpartyofficialsasevidencedbythe
selectionbeingsubjecttoTexasopenmeetingslawsthusprecludingasecretballotand
WHEREAS,Individualswhohaveputtheirnamesforwardaspotentialcandidatesaretherefore
not,untiltheyareselectedbytheSD13precinctchairs,candidatesasevidencedbyTexas
AttorneyGeneralOpinionJC249whichadvisedthatacurrentofficeholderwithmorethana
yearleftintheirtermwasnotrequiredtoresignunderTexasConstitutionArticleXVI,Sec65for
seekingselectionasapartyscandidateforanotherofficeasdoingsodidnotqualifythemas
havingannounce[d]theircandidacyor[having]infactbecomeacandidateand
WHEREAS,Individualswhohaveputtheirnamesforwardaspotentialcandidatesarenot,until
theyareselectedbytheSD13precinctchairs,candidatesasevidencedbythelackofa
requirementtofileatreasurerappointmentwiththeappropriatefilingauthoritythatspecifically
identifiestheofficethecandidateisseekingand
WHEREAS,theHoustonGLBTPoliticalCaucus(theCaucus)standingrulesofendorsement
requirethateligibilityforendorsementispredicatedonacandidatefilingatreasurer
appointmentwiththeappropriatefilingauthoritythatspecificallyidentifiestheofficethe
candidateisseekingand
WHEREAS,TheCaucusstandingrulesofendorsementconsistentlyreferstoitselfasapplying
tocandidatesanddonotthereforeapplytosituationswherenocandidatesexistand
WHEREAS,theCaucusisthereforeprecludedfrommakinganendorsementintheprocessof
selectingtheDemocraticcandidateforSD13asthepersonswhohaveputtheirnamesforward
tobecomecandidatesarenotyetcandidates,thosepersonsarenotrequiredtofileTreasurer
Appointmentsandtheprocessforselectingtheeventualcandidateisnotanelectionbuta
decisionbyagroupofelectedpartyleadersand
WHEREAS,theCaucusmay,andfromtimetotimehas,madepublicitsdesireforelected
leaderstotakespecificactionintheirdecisionmakingprocessesand
WHEREAS,theselectionoftheDemocraticcandidateinSD13willbemadeJuly16,2016and
WHEREAS,absentacallforaspecialmeeting,theCaucuswillnotmeetagainbeforeJuly16,
2016makingtheJuly6,2016theonlyopportunityfortheorganizationtomakeitsvoiceheardin
thedecisionmakingprocessand
WHEREAS,StateRepresentativeSenfroniaThompsonhasservedthepeopleofherdistrictin
theTexasHousefor42years,thelongestservingAfricanAmericanandlongestservingwoman
inthehistoryofthestateand

WHEREAS,thatexperiencemakesRep.Thompsonuniquelyqualifiedtorepresentthepeople
ofSD13and
WHEREAS,Rep.ThompsonisoneoftheearliestmembersoftheTexaslegislaturetoemploy
outLGBTstaffersand
WHEREAS,Rep.ThompsonisthefirstrecordedmemberoftheTexaslegislaturetodisplaya
rainbowflaginapublicallyviewablewindowofthecapitoland
WHEREAS,Rep.Thompsonistheauthorofthe2001JamesByrdJr.HateCrimesActwhich
allowsfortoughersentencesforthoseconvictedofcrimesmotivatedbybiasagainsttheir
victimssexualpreferenceand
WHEREAS,Rep.Thompsonvotedforeffortstopreventbullyingindiscriminationinschools
basedontheenumeratedattributesofsexualorientationandgenderidentityasearlyas2001
andistheHouseSponsorof2011santibullyingbillSB205andpublicallyparticipatedintheIt
GetsBetterProjecttoshowhersupportforLGBTyouthand
WHEREAS,Rep.ThompsonvotedagainsteffortstopreventLGBTparentsfromadoptingor
becomingfosterparentsasearlyas2003andsince2011hasfiledlegislationtoextendlegal
protectionsforparentslegallyrecognizedasunmarriedusingsurrogacytogrowtheirfamilies
which,atthetime,wouldhavegreatlyprotectedLGBTparentswhosemarriageswerenotthen
recognizedand
WHEREAS,Rep.ThompsonvotedagainsttheTexasConstitutionalAmendmentprohibitingthe
freedomtomarryin2003and
WHEREAS,Rep.Thompsonin2013and2015filedlegislationtoprohibitdiscriminationin
insurancebasedonsexualorientationorgenderidentityandexpressionand
WHEREAS,Rep.Thompsonwasontheforefrontofthesuccessfulefforttodefeata2013
amendmenttodefundLGBTresourcecentersonTexascollegecampusesand
WHEREAS,InthemostrecentlegislativesessionRep.Thompsonsupportedlegislationto
studyyouthhomelessness,addresspaydisparityandopposedeffortstoreducefundingfor
HIV/STDprevention,allissuesthatdisproportionatelyaffectLGBTTexansand
WHEREAS,Rep.ThompsonwasnamedaChampionofEqualitybyEqualityTexasin2013
and2015,everyyeartheawardwaspresentedand
WHEREAS,nootherpersonwhohassteppedforwardforconsiderationastheDemocratic
nomineeinSenateDistrict13combinestheyearsoflegislativeexperiencewiththestrong
recordonLGBTissuesthatRep.Thompsondisplaysbeittherefore
RESOLVED,thattheHoustonGLBTPoliticalCaucusencouragesDemocraticPrecinctchairsin
SenateDistrict13tosupporttheselectionofRep.SenfroniaThompsonastheDemocratic
candidateforSenateDistrict13.