Shaheen demands Dallas City Council investigate ‘obscene’ Pride event; Councilman Chad West dismisses letter as ‘ideological stunt’
State Rep. Matt Shaheen State Rep. Matt Shaheen, the Republican resenting State House District 66, this week emailed a letter to the Dallas City Council — copying Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia and Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot — demanding that city officials investigate the Texas Latino Pride Festival held Saturday, Sept.
16, at Reverchon Park. “I believe children were harmed at this event in violation of the Texas Penal Code,” Shaheen wrote. “Children were present and witnessed disgusting, obscene content that shows individuals committing offenses described in Section 43 of the Texas Penal Code.” Section 43 of the Texas Penal Code makes it a state jail felony if a person “wholesale promotes or possesses with intent to promote any obscene material” or “produces, presents or directs an obscene performance or participates in a portion thereof that is obscene or contributes to its obscenity.” “In this case, it is clear that the event organizers knew exactly what children would see and that they meant to promote it to children fulfilling both elements of the crime,” Shaheen wrote.
He went on to quote another portion of the penal code describing obscene materials and performances as anything intended to “appeal to the sexual, prurient interest of a minor,” and insisted that “Simply glancing at one of the many images of the event shows that the event appealed to the sexual prurient interest of a minor.” He added, “There is zero social value that minors can possibly receive in watching grown men parade around in BSDM (sic) underwear.” “As Dallas elected city officials, you must ensure that these crimes against children are prosecuted,” Shaheen insisted, concluding his letter with, “Duty requires that you investigate this matter immediately.
Please follow that duty for the sake of our children.” (See the complete text of the letter in the images below.) Shaheen’s letter makes it obvious that he did not attend the Texas Latino Pride Festival but instead
