Texas State Rep. Venton Jones Proposes to Partner at the State Capitol on First Day of Legislative Session

On the first day of the legislative session, Texas State Representative Venton Jones proposed to his partner, Gregory Scott Jr. at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Tuesday.
Venton Jones and Gregory Scott Jr.

On the first day of the legislative session, Texas State Representative Venton Jones proposed to his partner, Gregory Scott Jr. at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Tuesday.

Jones, a Democrat and one of the first openly Black gay men elected to the Texas Legislature in November 2022, got down on one knee after being sworn in to begin his second term.

The proposal took place during a recess in the House session, as Jones and Scott shared an emotional and joyful moment in front of their colleagues and a crowd of onlookers. As captured by WFAA-TV reporter Jason Whitely, Scott, moved and wiped away tears as Jones presented him with an engagement ring.

The couple’s shared moment of love inside the state Capitol was a powerful contrast to the political atmosphere around them, as Texas has seen a surge in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in recent years.

“Today, I took a renewed oath to serve my community with courage, conviction, and love. I made a promise to the person who has stood beside me through every step of this journey,” Jones said in a statement shared with local news outlets. “In a time when our love and our very existence are challenged, often in the halls of this very building, this moment is a reminder that love conquers all.”

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“Today, I took a renewed oath to serve my community with courage, conviction, and love. I made a promise to the person who has stood beside me through every step of this journey,” Jones said. “In a time when our love and our very existence are challenged, often in the halls of this very building, this moment is a reminder that love conquers all.”

Jones, 40, who represents the Dallas area, used his public platform to speak to the ongoing struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly in a state where legislation has increasingly targeted their rights.

In 2023, Texas lawmakers introduced 55 bills aiming to restrict LGBTQ+ rights, the most of any state in the U.S. that year, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Six of these bills became law, with many specifically targeting transgender youth, including restrictions on participation in school sports and access to transition-related medical care.

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