A city council member from Southeast Texas is under fire after scandalous photos taken from his Grindr account were sent to several local media outlets and City Hall.
19-year-old Cross Coburn was elected to the City Council in Groves, Texas. Yes, you read that correctly. He’s 19.
Earlier this week, anonymous envelopes arrived at the Port Arthur News, KDFM-TV, and City Hall. Inside were screenshots of Groves’ private Grindr photos and conversations he had had with other men.
Related: Teen found not guilty after catfishing teacher into sending x-rated Grindr pics
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
The envelopes had no return address and included a cover letter with contact information for Coburn, as well as the following statement:
Is this in any way proper behavior of a councilman to represent himself online or a ‘dating’ app? I felt the city council should be made aware of the situation.
Of course, the media outlets could have easily ignored the photos and not reported on any of it. Especially since having a Grindr profile and sharing private photos isn’t a crime. But what fun would that be? Instead, KDFM-TV decided to take the story and run with it, publishing the photos and tracking Coburn down for comment.
“I felt like I was being harassed, being discriminated against because I’m a young gay man on City Council,” Coburn rightly told the station.
Related: Man sues Grindr over elaborate sexual harassment scheme orchestrated by his ex
“That is my personal life and no one should know about it,” he continued. “I’m sorry if anyone took it the wrong way, but it’s really nothing more complex than this is my personal life.”
Word.
“Personally I think it’s unbecoming of a public official, regardless of age,” Mayor Brad Bailey tells the Port Arthur News, adding that Coburn had done “nothing illegal” and that there is “nothing to pursue.”
Still, the young councilman’s photo had been removed from the city’s website, even though he says he has no intention of stepping down.
“I am 19, still very young,” Coburn says. “The reason I want this position (on city council) is to learn. This is my first political post in my own home town and it’s a great way of learning.”
Related: Four teens charged with running sophisticated Grindr extortion scheme that will make you shudder
Polaro
What nasty-piece-of-work sent these pictures out? The answer to the question is this in any way proper behavior of a councilman to represent himself online or a ‘dating’ app? The answer is yes, yes it is.
Nowuvedoneit
Everything is out there oncde it goes on the internet so you just have to bear with it if you send nudes out. Also be aware of your job and what it’s policies.
DCguy
Which Job policies say that somebody can’t use a dating app?
lauraspencer
You shouldn’t be joining the city council to learn. You should be in a position to teach. This lack of discretion suggests that at 19, Coburn is probably too young to be a city councilman. Maybe in a few more years. Not now.
galileo
Nah, troll.
PinkoOfTheGange
His constituents disagreed.
Cylest Brooks
Technically, you should run for elected office because you want to serve your community, but for learning is also a perfectly good reason… most politicians start with local office and then progress to larger seats as they learn and grow.
Also, saying that he wants to learn doesn’t necessarily mean that he doesn’t know anything. There is not a politician in the world who knows everything or has the right answer about every topic. I, for one, certainly hope that my elected officials are there to learn, specifically about aspects of legislation that are not their forte, as they are charged with representing my vote in ALL matters.
I reject the idea that local elected officials should be in their role to “teach”. That’s not what politicians do. Teachers teach. Politicians lead. Very important distinction.
Keebler ILF
As long as he’s not committing any crime they should leave it alone.
By the way, it’s not safe these days in Texas to be opening mysterious packages. I wonder if the station had a bomb squad examine the envelopes before opening them.
blackhook
He looks like a typical Texas porker.
galileo
Would you like a brush with your tin of stereotype or are you just going to tip it out everywhere?
chris33133
I followed the link and, candidly, the pictures are nothing more scandalous than someone at a family-oriented beach; he’s shown without a shirt on. So I’m not sure what is so “scandalous” about the photos as was alluded to in the first line of this story.
There may be other photos and the texts may be decidedly adultish; but unless I see more, I don’t think he has anything to apologize for.
As regards the line between the private and the public, I think that we all breach that line when we post anything online. As many gay men from my generation learned years (decades?) ago: if it’s online, don’t expect it to remain private. Better to own it and to write some things off as “youthful indiscretions.”
barkomatic
I don’t know why we require politicians to give up their sex lives to serve in office yet it seems some communities expect the same level of celibacy as a Catholic Priest. He’s a single gay man so I don’t see the problem.
If he misrepresented himself in some way — such as being anti-gay then that’s different. However, I haven’t heard that’s the case here.
Goforit
Ummmm, The celibacy of a Catholic priest in a story about a young gay mans sex life may not be the best example to use.
Paco
While I agree he is entitled to his private life, he needs to realize that Grindr is not private and any photos he shares with others online, are out there forever.
troyfight
^Paco…..yep, it’s just the way it is. & we’ll see this again…
derek mcgillicuddy
So, the alternative some of you suggest is to live in fear the entirety of your life that your private life might be invaded and someone will use what he finds to harm you? That is not a life I wish to lead.
Brian
That’s not what anyone is saying. And nobody’s private life was invaded. Grindr is public, and whatever private pics you have on there are public too, the very first time you share them with anyone. If you’re a public figure, it’s all fair game so either own it, or get rid of it.
dwes09
And it looks like he owns it, and does so in a mature statement. The messed up ones are the person who sent in the pictures, and those who make a show of being shocked.
JaredNorthcutt30
Lemme get this straight. Queerty wants to whine about a Texas TV station posting the pictures, but then posts the photos for unique page views? It’s another day in America, the hypocrisy melting pot.
dwes09
Clearly, Queerty sees nothing wrong with either the picture shown or the fact of the man being on a dating app. And they are correct. What is wrong is that the Texas newspaper made a big deal of it and the city mayor made a big deal of it. That is where the hypocrisy lies.
JaredNorthcutt30
Not buying it. Posting his pics so people can call him porker? Not buying it. Hypocrisy on both sides. Thanks.
Brody
“The reason I want this position is to learn.”
Forget the pics, I want to know what moronic Texans elected a child to public office in order to further his education rather than making responsible decisions.
dwes09
I want to know why you have such a problem with critical thinking, as do your regressive compatriots.
ALMOST ALL politicians climb up from local to regional to national positions TO LEARN, as the rules of the political game are complex. Nothing shows the wisdom of this more than looking at the elected fool who is making our country an international laughingstock and setting us up for renewed recession and unemployment.
Obviously this 19 year old was canny enough to formulate positions and run a campaign that got him elected. And it clearly was his talent as at that level almost nobody has access to the deep pockets of the corporate world or one’s peers as higher level candidates do.
not a clone
at least he is not accused of assaulting someone, oh sorry thats the current president!
martin_erickson
Well, he learned. Time to apply e lesson to leadership skills….and “move on”
1898
sounds like nothing more than revenge on the part of some grindr loser who this young man said “thanks but not thanks” to
Notright
That’s basic. When you want to be in politics everything you do is scrutinized. Also he demonstrates his immaturity by expecting photos he posts on a public application to be private. Get real.
Tombear
I thought all Texans had a beard and Chest hair, my fave. This guy looks like a prepubescent adolescent!