Legislative session opens
State Reps. Jessica Gonzalez and Christian Manuel are sworn in for the 2023 Texas Legislature (David Taffet/Dallas Voice) LGBTQ freshmen enter Legislature with cautious optimism DAVID TAFFET | Senior Staff Writertaffet@dallasvoice.com AUSTIN — Three LGBTQ legislators were sworn in for their first legislative session, and each expressed cautious optimism on their first day in office.
Rep. Jolanda Jones of Houston, who won a special election last spring, enters her first full session with the experience of delivering constituent services for the last six months and having had the time to prepare legislation she plans to file. “I’m hoping to get things done,” she said.
But, she added, “I know it’s very partisan.” Jones said her experience as a trial lawyer will help because “I will say what others won’t,” and she always asks the right questions.
State Rep. Jolanda Jones Jones has been described as extremely smart and relentless, yet she’s also utterly charming. She said she’s surrounded herself with a staff of diverse and experienced “young people who will work longer and harder. “It’s sad,” she added, “that it took until 2022 to get the first Black LGBT person elected.” But she is proud to have been the first of three that will serve during this term.
