Two Williamson County judges are pushing the county to publicly promote high-risk sexual behavior on government property.
Judges KT Musselman and Stacy Hackenberg, justices of the peace in Round Rock and Taylor, are requesting permission from the county to fly the LGBT rainbow flag at their public court buildings—right alongside the U.S. and Texas flags. The judges will go before the Williamson County commissioners court on Tuesday to get a final decision.
Judge Hackenberg, who identifies as gay, was recently elected to the office and vowed to be a “progressive voice for Williamson County courts.”
“It’s time to turn Williamson County Blue!” She said last year. “For too long, Wilco has been seen as solidly and reliably Republican, but the times, they are a changing.”
Leading up to Tuesday’s vote, County Judge Bill Gravell posted a poll on Facebook to get feedback on flying the rainbow flag on government property for the remainder of June. As of Monday afternoon, nearly 64,000 people voted, with 53 percent voting against the idea. The post also has roughly 3,000 comments.
“We are currently flying the American flag and the Texas flag. That already includes everyone,” wrote one resident. “If this is really about inclusion, then we don’t need a separate flag. These two flags represent all of us. Every single one. If you start flying a special flag representing a group of people, you only single them out. There will be plenty of other groups who will demand the same.”
Another commenter echoed that point.
“The only flags that should be flown are the Federal and state flags,” the resident said. “There are many flags that represent special interest groups. They are welcome to fly them on their buildings but have no place on our government buildings. To give in to one opens the door for all to be represented.”
“I am part of the gay community myself however I strongly disagree with the ‘attention seeking left’ pride month is an embarrassment to me,” another commenter wrote. “Why does it have to be thrown in everyone’s face? I voted no.”
In addition to wanting the county to publicly support high-risk sexual behavior, Hackenberg also boasted on her campaign’s crowdfunding website how she opposed and testified three times against the Texas Privacy Act, a 2017 state law proposal that would have strengthened protections for women against men intruding in their bathrooms and locker rooms.
The commissioners court will meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday to vote on giving the judges permission to fly the flag.
