On the evening of May 16, 2023, Brian Livingston, one of our council members – whilst attending a City of Frisco TX Council meeting – decided to share a video post on his personal page about a local retailer selling baby clothes and other clothes that portrayed rainbows and other pride items (see below for a PDF of the post and some comments). His comment accompanying the shared video suggested it was inappropriate. Comments were made including Brian’s belief that no child should be sexualized, by wearing a onesie with a rainbow on it. Again, we are talking about onesies and tee shirts for kids. No one was making him buy these products, but he decided to share this post targeting the LGBTQ community and in particular, our Trans community. His opinion, along with those that were supporting him, was crystal clear, and it was hateful towards a community that Brian has no interest in understanding.
This was yet another unprovoked attack on our community because we are seemingly an easy target (ironically in Target!). I mean who would disagree with him when it’s all about sexualizing the kids? But here is the thing, Brian has remained silent when other (read non-LGBTQ) kids (or more truthfully, their parents) have been dressed up for pageants, cheer squads, and dance competitions where children are pushed onto the stage dressed much older than they should be and paraded (exploited) to all those present. This happens with girls far more than with boys, but it is far more exploitative on a whole different level. Brian hasn’t done anything to stand up for the kids in this situation. Not once!
I’ve shared previously that Brian and I do not agree on most things relating to diversity or inclusion, but I’ve stated that I’ve always appreciated that I felt he was being true to himself and was a (mostly) honest person. I’ve let that quality blind me, but no more. I’m calling him out for what he is. He is ignorant of many things (after all, it is easier to bury your head in the sand than try to understand issues), and he is drawn to attack others to appease his supporters or his handlers to benefit him with his future political aspirations.
Brian is not a friend of the LGBTQ community. And that is okay. I’m not a fan of Brian (which is why I didn’t vote for him or those that he was supporting in our recent council race).
And here is the thing. If those of us who are impacted by this guy’s posts (and others like him) let them go unchallenged, then are we not being complicit in these kinds of attacks? We need to speak up EVERY TIME and we need to keep him, his supporters, those that he supports, and those that hide behind their hatred out in the open. As we’ve seen many times (especially recently), it is those that are trying to distract you that often have the most to hide. Don’t be distracted.