In a heartwarming moment at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, State Representative Venton Jones, a Democrat from Dallas, proposed to his partner, Gregory Scott Jr., on Tuesday, January 14.
Jones, who made history in November 2022 as one of the first openly Black gay men elected to the Texas Legislature, popped the question on the floor of the Texas House after being sworn in on the opening day of the legislative session.
During a recess, Jones got down on one knee and asked Scott to marry him. Scott, visibly emotional, said yes and wiped away tears as Jones presented him with an engagement ring. The touching moment was captured in a video shared on social media by WFAA-TV reporter Jason Whitely.
“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 to local media. “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 emphasized the significance of their engagement in the face of adversity: “We stand as proof that progress is unstoppable, and no amount of hate can erase the truth of who we are.”
His statement comes amid ongoing debates in Texas, where numerous bills have been introduced aiming to restrict LGBTQ rights.
