An unauthorized event honoring LGBTQ servicemembers and an LGBTQ child advocacy group has been canceled, a spokesperson from the Office of the Governor confirmed.
The “Unit Fun Run” in honor of Pride Month was planned for June 28 and would have been held on Camp Mabry’s parade field, Texas Military Department (TMD) property. Camp Mabry is located on the north side of Austin, only a 10-minute drive from the Governor’s Mansion, where Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the TMD’s commander-in-chief, resides.
Renae Eze, a spokeswoman for Abbott, told The Dallas Express, “This event was not sanctioned, approved, or authorized by the Texas Military Department and is not occurring.”
According to an advertisement for the now-canceled event obtained by Texas Scorecard, it was intended to “Recognize LGBTQ+ military members and allies in support of national Pride month.”
“All TMD members are invited! Spread the word!” it read.
Donations were requested in return for either a “Pride inspired” patch or T-shirt, and the run was noted as “honoring” a group called Out Youth.
Invite | Image by Texas Scorecard
Out Youth describes itself as serving “Central Texas LGBTQIA+ youth and their allies with programs and services to ensure these promising young people develop into happy, healthy, successful adults.”
The group seeks to provide a “safe space for LGBTQ+ youth to come together, receive support, and make friends who understand who they are.”
“Out Youth envisions a world where sexual and gender minority youth receive the support needed to develop positive self-images, empower themselves and become active citizens in their communities,” the website adds.
Texas Family Project’s Brady Gray denounced the organization and the event, telling Texas Scorecard, “It is especially appalling that our tax dollars are going to support this activity.
“Out Youth advertises itself as an organization that offers resources for ‘youth of all sexual orientation’ and begins grooming as young as 5,” he claimed. “This is purely evil and has no place in our society.
“As the commander-in-chief of the military forces of Texas, Governor Abbott should immediately put a stop to these sorts of events,” he concluded.
It appears as though Gov. Abbott heeded the suggestion, as the event is no longer happening.
The Texas Military Department comprises the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, and the Texas State Guard. Gov. Abbott acts as the commander-in-chief, and Major General Thomas Suelzer serves as the Adjutant General.
Recently, Abbott won a significant victory before the Fifth Circuit Court in his capacity as commander-in-chief after the Biden administration tried to punish members of the Texas National Guard for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, as reported by The Dallas Express.
The court reaffirmed Texas’ rights to lead its own military forces when not nationalized and rejected Biden’s attempt to mandate that Texas guardsmen receive the vaccine.
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