“Transgender” Jonah Murray, a biological female who identifies as a man, has announced a resignation from the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission and plans to leave Texas, blaming Republican-led policy changes as the reason.
“As a transmasculine person, early on in my transition, I realized I was beginning to be treated differently in society — I realized that I was benefitting from white male privilege. I endeavor every day to use this power in the spaces I inhabit for advocacy and to lift up the trans and LGBTQ+ community with me,” Murray told Voyage Dallas. “The most marginalized voices in our community must be heard and acted upon for there to be any meaningful progress.”
During a Fort Worth City Council meeting in early August, Murray said, “I’m going to speak against this resolution and in favor of diversity, equity, and inclusion. And tell you why I am moving away from not just Fort Worth but out of Texas. By the end of this month, I am gone.”
“I’m moving to a sanctuary city that actually stands up for transgender rights and other human rights,” Murray continued.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the Fort Worth City Council voted 7–4 to dissolve its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) department, citing concerns about federal funding risks and rising public backlash.
Murray previously served on the board of Finn’s Place, a nonprofit that, according to its own materials, supports “transgender youth.” Critics allege the group encourages minors to make irreversible medical decisions and promotes radical gender ideology.
“A camp dedicated to ‘trans’ children where they stay out in the wilderness away from their parents? Not great,” said Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French last year, as reported by The Dallas Express. “They also promote therapists that socially transition children, businesses that offer sexual products, and The Kind Clinic, which offers ‘hormone therapy.’”
Murray also served as the LGBTQ liaison on the Human Relations Commission — a position that drew criticism from councilmembers who said the appointment process lacked transparency.
“I am deeply concerned that city staff appear to be pushing their own personal and political agendas rather than holding the Human Relations Commission accountable,” Councilwoman Macy Hill said last year. “Their work must remain focused.”
Following Murray’s resignation announcement, conservative leaders in Fort Worth responded forcefully.
Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French told The Dallas Express:
“Since I became the Chair of the Tarrant County GOP I have endeavored to push policies that accomplish exactly this. No sane person wants these mentally ill, child-mutilating groomers walking among us. I won’t rest until they all leave Tarrant County.”
Kaden Lopez, executive director of the Texas Family Project, added:
“Being transgender is a direct contradiction to God‘s teachings. He does not make mistakes. We have made huge progress in Texas to return sanity to society. Soon, transgenders will have to use the bathroom of their biological sex, all of their identification will reflect their biological sex, and we will continue to implement policies like this. Texas is the wrong place to live for anyone who participates in child indoctrination.”
The Dallas Express reached out to Murray for comment but did not receive a response.