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 … Continued…

The GOP jokesters (is that an oxymoron?) who came up with this handy pin probably thought they were being original, not knowing that the joke is so old and tired that old and tired Southwesterners in bolo ties were getting in trouble for uttering it in public places months ago.

Nevertheless, Republicanmarket.com printed up the “Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?” of racist political jokes on a bunch of pins and sold them at the Texas Republican Convention last weekend.

Of course, after photos of the pin hit the press yesterday, the state GOP representatives were shocked and appalled, vowing to never again invite the vendor to an event.

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We couldn’t say it better ourselves: “A Dallas man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for spitting at a cop. He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, because he’s HIV-positive. So his spit is made of death!!! Except, uh… we were taught many years ago that much as you can’t get pregnant from oral sex, you can’t actually get the AIDS from fucking spit… Oh, Texas. You never cease to make us want to give you back to Mexico.” [Gawker]

Dallas’ Catholic Diocese will further investigate Father Arthur Mallinson’s involvement with a website for gay - yet still celebate - priests. Mallinson resigned earlier this week after parishioners raised questions about his queer past. Mallinson claims he left the now defunct site after things turned explicit and the Diocese insists he did nothing wrong, yet they still want to probe a bit. [DMN]

A hardy homo congratulations to sappho-politico Randi Shade, who just won a seat on Austin’s city council. She beat incumbent Jennifer Kim by 37-points. One could say that Shade licked her, if you know what we mean. [Gay Politics]

Texan journalist Jacquielynn Floyd says the dirty, anti-gay campaigning against Justin Nichols tarnishes the entire state: “Somebody out there is making us all look creepy, making us all seem backward, is prompting a backlash of stereotypes about ‘conservative evangelicals’ whose mental apparatus is controlled by “‘megachurches.’” [Dallas Morning News]

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 … Continued…

Barack Obama wasn’t a total loser in Texas last night. The Senator snagged more caucus nods than rival Hillary Clinton. [SH]

Four gay politicos advanced in Texas’ statewide elections yesterday. The quartet will now go on to November’s face-off. [Gay Politics]

Homo love Hillary Clinton. Not all of them, of course, but enough that the Washington Post sent journalist Jose Antonio Vargas down to Texas to investigate Mrs. Clinton’s flaming fans.

Vargas offers a readable and entertaining article, to be sure, but object to this summation: “Hillary’s their gal, that reliable, ubiquitous straight girl who hangs out with the gang, the Grace Adler to their Will Truman.” Gawd!! Are there no other fag hags in all the land?!

No offense, Debra Messing, but Grace Adler was an annoying busy-body. We would never, ever be friends with someone like that, much less vote for them. We’d rather compare Hillary to Liza, except without the drug addictions and … Continued…

Hillary Clinton’s campaign came back from the dead last night. The Buckeye state’s Democratic voters in Ohio overwhelming supported the Senator from New York, as did citizens in Rhode Island and Texas.
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A new poll shows that two-thirds of Democrats want Hillary Clinton to stay in the race if she wins in both Texas and Ohio. Absolutely earth-shattering results, right? Well, conversely, if Clinton loses both states, 51% want her out. We have a feeling the Senator from New York’s about to sweep this shit. Just a hunch, though. [Washington Post via Gay Socialites]

Is nothing sacred!? A troublesome trio assaulted a number of gay folk at a Dallas area gay club last week: [Sid Gonzales] said he tried to be friendly and make small talk with the trio. But he said he was not trying to hit on the men, whom he described as straight-looking, well-dressed and college-aged.

When Gonzales asked a few questions, the woman responded but the men said nothing and looked uncomfortable, he said.

Gonzales said he reached out to shake hands with one of the men. The man grabbed Gonzales’ arm, twisted it in the air and slammed it against a knee. Gonzales said the first man also stabbed him in the hand … Continued…

There are six - count ‘em: six - gay candidates running for election on Tuesday in Texas. We can’t vote there, but we’d totally want Andres Pereira to be our 190th civil district judge. He’s cute. [Gay Politics]

Barack Obama’s probably feeling pretty confident right now - he’s won the last eleven primaries, has eaten into Hillary Clinton’s base and keeps climbing in national numbers. It seems the Senator’s just two states away from clinching the Democratic presidential nomination. If he wins in Texas and Ohio on Tuesday - well, even Bill admits that Hillary’s campaign’s not going to make it.

One can’t get lazy, of course, which may explain why he’s now placing the above “generic” LGBT ad in gay newspapers in Ohio and Texas. Oh yeah, Obama’s definitely stamping on Clinton’s queer territory. It’s a crazy strategy, yes, and may just push Obama over the edge…
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