Bill Text: TX HR262 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending the Reverend Dr. Neil G. Cazares-Thomas for his service to the LGBTQIA+ communities of Texas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-10-26 - Reported enrolled [HR262 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HR262-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 262 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The Reverend Dr. Neil G. Cazares-Thomas has been a | ||
| leader in the fight for social justice for members of the LGBTQIA+ | ||
| communities in Texas, and his efforts have made a positive | ||
| difference in numerous lives; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Since 2015, Reverend Cazares-Thomas has been the | ||
| senior pastor at Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, which is a member of | ||
| the United Church of Christ and one of the largest predominately | ||
| LGBTQIA+ churches in the nation; since 1981, he has been a member of | ||
| Metropolitan Community Churches, a movement made up of LGBTQIA+ | ||
| affirming congregations, and he previously served as senior pastor | ||
| of MCC churches in Bournemouth, England, and Los Angeles, | ||
| California; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Reverend Cazares-Thomas has | ||
| spoken out against the bigotry that many religious organizations | ||
| express toward members of the LGBTQIA+ communities; in addition, he | ||
| has played a vital role in establishing programs for unhoused | ||
| people, night and day shelters, safe sex initiatives, and LGBTQ | ||
| youth services, and he helped found a drop-in counseling center | ||
| during the AIDS pandemic; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A native of Bournemouth, Reverend Cazares-Thomas | ||
| attended St. John's Theological College, La Saint Union, and King | ||
| Alfred's College, and he earned his doctorate of ministry from San | ||
| Francisco Theological Seminary in 2009; he has chaired the Ordained | ||
| Ministries European District board and served as a member of the | ||
| Elder's Task Force on Education, the European District Committee, | ||
| and the board of Samaritan College, among other leadership roles; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Reverend Cazares-Thomas is a recipient of many | ||
| honors, including the 2018 Justice Seeker of the Year Award from the | ||
| Dallas Peace and Justice Center, the 2017 Shalom Award from the | ||
| Temple Shalom Brotherhood, the 2017 Partners for Equality Award | ||
| from Lambda Legal, the 2016 Crystal Hope Award from AIDS Interfaith | ||
| Network, the 2012 Leadership Award from California Faith for | ||
| Equality, and the 2010 Harvey Milk Award; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Through his myriad endeavors, Reverend | ||
| Cazares-Thomas has helped further inclusion and equality in the | ||
| Lone Star State, and he may indeed reflect with pride on his many | ||
| noteworthy accomplishments; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas | ||
| Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commend the Reverend | ||
| Dr. Neil G. Cazares-Thomas for his service to the LGBTQIA+ | ||
| communities of Texas and extend to him sincere best wishes for | ||
| continued success in his important work; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for Reverend Cazares-Thomas as an expression of high | ||
| regard by the Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| González of El Paso | ||
| González of Dallas | ||
| Zwiener | ||
| Johnson of Dallas | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 262 was adopted by the House on | ||
| October 18, 2021, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
