Lechers in the Texas Legislature

[TexasTowelie]

By Carol Morgan

On Wednesday, I noticed an interesting piece by Olivia Messer in the Texas Observer. I sincerely hope all will read the entire article and more importantly, watch the video here: http://www.texasobserver.org/the-texas-legislatures-sexist-little-secret/

I couldn’t believe what I was reading, my jaw dropped to the floor. By the time I finished the article, there were no words to describe my anger. I’m still seething twenty-four hours later.

Here are just a few of the misogynistic activities of some of the “honorable men” of the Texas Legislature mentioned in Messer’s article:

1. East Texas’ Mike “Tuffy” Hamilton is best known among female legislative staffers for his unwelcome slaps on their butts. He was accused of using campaign funds for a $100 lunch at Hooters. He interrupted Representative Marisa Marquez as she debated funding for Franklin Mountain State Park with the following comment: “Young lady, would you please tell us why your mountains are better than any of our mountains and are they man-made or are they real mountains?” (Texas Monthly gave him a dishonorable mention for this)

2. When Representatives Kolkhorst [font color=green](the representative for my district)[/font] and Dukes were having a serious debate, male legislators began making cat noises. (I’m an expert on middle school boys behavior and this is middle school boy behavior)

3. When Democratic Senator Judith Zaffirini proposed reserving a breast-feeding room for staffers at the Capitol, our own Republican Senator, Kel Seliger of Amarillo, responded with a facetious amendment that would have designated her office for that purpose. (I take back everything good I’ve ever said about Mr. Seliger in the past.)

4. Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, took the microphone after a Sefronia Thompson speech about male legislators and their misogynism. Riddle reported that some lawmakers were watching pornography on their iPads during the Legislative session.

More at http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2013-08-01/lechers-texas-legislature .

Carol Morgan is a career counselor, writer, speaker, former Democratic candidate for the Texas House and the award-winning author of Of Tapestry, Time and Tears, a historical fiction about the 1947 Partition of India.