Among other statements, the proclamation presented at the June 18 meeting and signed by Chairman Gordy Bunch stated that The Woodlands community will endeavor to remain a place for all residents “regardless of race, nationality, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and identity, and social economic status.”
Before the proclamation was read out loud by Director Ann Snyder, Bunch said that a consensus had not been reached among board members for the language of the proclamation.
After the reading, Sekula-Gibbs shared several comments, noting why she did not support the choice of words in one portion of the proclamation.
“Since I am a Catholic Christian, I cannot in good conscience support the words ‘sexual orientation and identity’ that were used to replace the word ‘sex,’” Sekula-Gibbs said. “I do believe we are all made in God’s image and likeness and without exception, we must be treated with dignity, compassion and respect and this is a tenet of my faith.”
Most of the nearly hour-long public comments session of the meeting on June 24 consisted of callers who disagreed with her statement, many of which called for her resignation or for a retraction of her statement.
Among the callers was resident Rashmi Gupta, who ran against Sekula-Gibbs and one other candidate for the Position 5 seat in the 2019 election. Gupta called for Sekula-Gibbs to step down.
"We need to encourage, accept and love all. Members of the LGBTQ are amongst the highest to commit suicide. And telling these individuals they are not welcome will not bring the suicide rates down," Gupta said.
Among the other callers, Jason Rocha, CEO and president of The Woodlands Pride, which organizes an annual LGBTQ pride event in The Woodlands each year, said he felt the director's comments were an indication that Sekula-Gibbs would not represent all residents of the community equally.
"No one is attacking you. No one is attacking your faith. We are simply saying, do your job. Represent everyone equally," Rocha said in the call. "And because it is shown time and time again that you cannot do that, you have to face the consequences, and the only consequence I see is a proper resignation.”
Although Sekula-Gibbs and the board were not able to respond to the public comments because they did not address an item on the meeting agenda, Bunch said he was able to address several points for purposes of clarification.
He said that the language regarding sexual orientation and identity was not removed from the proclamation, as several callers had stated, and he noted that the proclamation was signed prior to the meeting. He said it was the third proclamation with similar language that has been passed by the board in several years.
“We are not allowed to get into dialogue or respond and if we do not have an agenda item,” Bunch said. “We do not have an agenda item on many of the ideas that were suggested so we will not be able to answer those questions.”
Sekula-Gibbs did not immediately respond to an email requesting additional comment on the matter.
