This is what a fierce advocate looks like.
This happened in the City Council meeting yesterday in Fort Worth, Texas. If you’ve ever been to a City Council meeting, you know the sort of stale, vanilla atmosphere that can take hold, which makes the tearful, hopeful testimony given by openly gay Fort Worth city councilman Joel Burns all the more unique.
I dare you to make it all the way through without crying. I made it, oh, four minutes.
Here’s what a couple of the other council members had to say about Burns’ speech:
Burns’ sometimes tearful comments drew praise from his fellow council members.
“So very proud of my friend and colleague Joel Burns for his stance against bullying of gay youth and those perceived to be gay,” Councilwoman Kathleen Hicks wrote on Facebook during the meeting. “I am sure he saved many tonight.”
Councilman Sal Espino echoed Hicks’ thoughts.
“Burns displayed tremendous personal courage today in speaking out against bullying against youth and children particularly gay youth in light of the recent tragedies,” he also posted on Facebook. “Fort Worth is a diverse community and we believe that all of God’s children should be treated with dignity, compassion, and love.”
Even in Fort Worth, y’all.
Anyone who can watch this without getting choked up has no heart and no soul.
Amazing… such powerful words.
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