There's some queer politicking in Dallas, Texas.

Openly gay Justin Nichols has reached a deal to step down from his gig at Collin County’s teen court program. Nichols' sexuality first became a matter of debate in March, when he was running for city council and an opponent questioned whether he was fit for his position.

Though neither Nichols of Collin County will comment on the logistics of the deal, it seems pretty clear that people had a problem with Nichols same-sex loving ways:

Mr. Nichols would not comment on the deal, citing a confidentiality clause in the agreement.

This morning, he said he was ready to sign the deal, which the Collin County Commissioners Court approved in a 3-1 vote following an executive session June 10.
…
The controversy began in March after the Dallas Voice, a weekly gay and lesbian newspaper, ran a story about Mr. Nichols’ city council candidacy that mentioned his sexual orientation.

Commissioners subsequently planned to discuss Mr. Nichol’s job status during an April meeting, but later decided not to. At the time, the court offered no reason for its discussion of Mr. Nichols.

Let's all say it together: sha-dy!

Are there dirty politics at work in Texas? Phyllis Cole says, "yes."

The City Commissioner of Plano, Texas, Cole accuses her enemies of enlisting some unseemly practices to derail her campaign, primarily the implication that her gay ally, 23-year old Justin Nichols' homosexuality makes him unfit for children:

An openly gay City Council candidate is being used like a pawn in an effort by right-wing conservatives to seize control of the Collin County Commission.

This is according to County Commissioner Phyllis Cole, who faces an April 8 runoff against Matt Shaheen for the Precinct 2 seat she’s occupied for the last 17 years.

An anonymous e-mail reportedly was sent out last week attacking Cole for her support of Collin County Teen Court coordinator Justin Nichols, 23.

The e-mail stated,“Look who Phyllis appointed to work with your kids,” and contained a link to a March 14 Dallas Voice article about Nichols, who’s vying to become the first-ever openly gay member of the City Council in the May 10 municipal election.

“I’m very disturbed about the whole thing, because I like what Justin does, I like Justin,” Cole said. “I don’t want to be a commissioner anymore if this is what’s going to be involved, taking a nice young man like Justin and hanging him out to dry.”

Shaheen, for the record, denies smearing Nichols, who happens to be the city's youngest city council candidate ever.