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    Gay Suburbia Political Power

    New LGBT Caucus Among Suburban Lives in Fort Bend

    Wilbert Chinchilla
    Sep 15, 2010 | 9:09 am
    • Robin Brown (hostess), Autumn Downing (Chair of Marketing and Events), FionaDawson (hostess and President), Mayor Annise Parker, Terry Hobbs (Secretary),Januari Leo (Vice President and Chair of PR and Communications)
      Photo by Dalton DeHart
    • Don Bankston, Susan Bankston, Hal Heitman with the Fort Bend Democrats Club, DonMaines from OutSmart Magazine
      Photo by Dalton DeHart
    • Fredericka Allen (Democratic candidate for 240th Judicial District Court) andJoe Sullivan
      Photo by Dalton DeHart

    It's Sunday. It's week one of the Houston Texas season schedule and they are playing against the Colts. I see the game from a television screen where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Caucus members eagerly wait until the second quarter is finished in Fort Bend where there is an eclectic mix of people filling up the home of Fiona Dawson and Robin Brown.

    More than halfway around the world, there are two foreign exchange students from Germany who's host fathers are present in support of the caucus. And although these are two different cultures, the ideal of having a LGBT caucus in Fort Bend or in Germany is not farfetched to Olle Ax and Marvin Kunde.

    With some libations, inner-loopers converse on the many happenings that are going about the city. But for a place that is outside the loop, an LGBT Caucus in the suburb of Fort Bend has managed to bring Mayor Annise Parker from her opening remarks at the Texans game and give a rousing speech.

    With signs leading up to a culdesac filled with cars that was a sort of "trail of bread crumbs and a yellow brick road" (as described by the host) of signs stating the presence of the LGBT Political Caucus, the opening by Dawson acknowledging the large handful of guest that are living in Fort Bend County and gay says, "I knew there was a reason to start this group. It's not that crazy."

    Steve Brown, Democratic Chair of Fort Bend County approached Dawson about starting an LGBT caucus. As a non-partisan group, the caucus did invite both Republican and Democratic representatives. There were only Democratic candidates present.

    Inner and outer loopers came in for their support of the caucus who's goal is to end all prejudice and make sure every human being has equal rights. And even though this caucus in Fort Bend might seem like a progressive move, it seems necessary.

    For Fort Bend County residents and married (as legal as can currently be) couple Brandy Gibson and Holly Hutchins, they state they haven't experienced much prejudice in the soon to be three years they have lived in the county. For what is a considered a conservative town, there hasn't been much push back."We have neighbors that are outgoing and friendly. Others haven't, but it's more of a personality issue. We normally don't know anybody or any families that are gay out here," says Hutchins.

    Annise Parker's remarks were well versed and definitely embody the goals of not just the Fort Bend LGBT Caucus, but also the Houston GLBT Caucus she helped start.

    "I have been on the job for a little bit over eight months now. There is still a smile on my face." Parker goes on to state her early beginnings stating that she has taken the long way to get to this position as Mayor. The 35 year old Houston Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus is where she began to follow Sue Lovell and become invested in politics; Eventually, becoming the president of that political caucus.

    "It was started by five people in a time when the world was a very scary place and much different. That fact that today I am sitting at the council table with Sue Lovell, who was first woman president of that organization, and that I immediately followed her. People are astounded at how calm we are at some of the situations we face.

    Because when we came of age as activists in the 80s, we learned how to chair meetings; we learned how to debate publicly those who were on the far right when the straight slate was campaigning together to be Mayor and council members in the city of Houston. We took the tools that we were given then and the experience we that earned then, and we have been using it in the City of Houston. Small, little, but committed people can make a tremendous difference. That's why I was so glad to come down here. That's why I believe that the new board of this organization is going to change the face of Fort Bend."

    As the inauguration commenced, there is an update on the group's Facebook page via Dawson, "get this, two people who have just moved to Fort Bend from Utah, due to being harassed for being gay, followed our signs because they saw "LGBT" and wanted to find friends. They arrived when everyone else had left and hung out for a while. That event alone sums up exactly why we're doing this work."

    State District Judge Steven Kirkland, State Representative for HD 27 Ron Reynolds, and candidates Fredricka Allen and Pat Olney who are running for different positions were also present for the inaugural membership drive. The Fort Bend LGBT Political Caucus meets on the second Wednesday of every month. For more details, contact you can email fblgbt_political_caucus@yahoo.com or use the social networks below:

    Fort Bend LGBT Political Caucus Facebook Page

    Fort Bend LGBT Twitter

    unspecified
    news/city-life

    a new hope

    Houston group seeks fresh ideas for the Astrodome — including a data center

    Jef Rouner
    Aug 19, 2026 | 2:15 pm
    Astrodome
    Photo courtesy of City of Houston
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    The Astrodome may have once been touted as the Eighth Wonder of the World, but its current condition remains one of Houston's most famous follies. In an effort to find a better use for the building, The Astrodome Conservancy released a Request for Information (RFI) this week, inviting proposals from interested parties on how the historic landmark might be used. Respondents have until September 8 to submit their responses at the official conservancy site.

    “This RFI is an opportunity for the market to help shape a shared vision for the Astrodome,” said Beth Wiedower Jackson, executive director of the Astrodome Conservancy. “We are looking to gather creative, feasible, and financially viable ideas that reflect both the significance of the Astrodome and its potential as a catalyst for future development.”

    When the Astrodome opened in 1965, it was a marvel of engineering and the world's first air-conditioned, multi-purpose domed sports stadium. It remained an iconic part of Houston until changing trends in sports sent the Astros and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to newer stadiums with modern amenities. After the 2003 Rodeo, the Dome was closed except for a brief use as an evacuation shelter for Hurricane Katrina.

    A decades-long fight over what to do with the Astrodome followed that closure. The City of Houston condemned the building for various code violations in 2009. Fully renovating it would cost over $700 million, a tall order for taxpayers. Demolishing it would be far cheaper (around $55 million), but its status on the National Register of Historic Places makes that virtually impossible. Meanwhile, Harris County pays hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to keep the building from turning into an indoor swamp and health hazard.

    Proposals for the space have run the gamut. In 2024, the Astrodome Conservancy proposed Vision: Astrodome, which would transform the building into an indoor mall and event space. That still appears to be the foundation of the plan according to the RFI. Or maybe a casino would work? All of it has been slow to get off the ground for a variety of cost and feasibility reasons.

    The RFI is seeking private investment to partner with the Harris County property. Proposals are merely for planning purposes and will not automatically lead to contracts for development. Section 2.3 states that participants in the new mixed-use space will "require back-of-house infrastructure improvements to support reliable operations at scale," likely meaning that the plan is to fund some of the much-needed renovations via tenants. However, the RFI points out that participants in the revitalized Astrodome will also be eligible for historic space preservation tax credits.

    While Vision: Astrodome seems committed to using the stadium as a public space for the entertainment of Houstonians, the RFI is clear other options are on the table. The Astrodome possibly being used to house a data center is specifically mentioned, though the RFI mandates such a proposal would need to be very upfront about the infrastructure demands and continuing operating costs of such a project. Public backlash against data centers led to Governor Greg Abbott ordering a pause on grid connections to them pending further review. In the unlikely event a data center operator received approval from both the Astrodome Conservancy and Harris County Commissioners, it would likely face opposition from other parties no matter how much money was involved.

    astrodome conservancy
    news/city-life
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