Texas State Democratic legislators temporarily fled the state earlier this month to prevent Republicans from passing a newly drawn electoral map that would give the GOP more U.S. congressional seats. When the Democrats returned, Republicans required them to be escorted round-the-clock by state troopers to prevent them from fleeing the state again.

Two Dallas-area state legislators, Representatives Terry Meza (an LGBTQ+ ally) and Venton Jones (the state’s first out gay, Black, HIV-positive lawmaker), took their police escorts to the Rose Room, a drag venue in the city’s Oak Lawn gayborhood, The Houston Chronicle reported.

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Meza and Jones didn’t attend the venue to watch a drag performance, however. They came to attend a meeting of the Stonewall Democrats, a political group for LGBTQ+ Democrats and allies.

Political journalist Scott Braddock posted a photo of the legislators speaking to meeting attendees at the venue, writing via X that the legislators had “dragged their DPS troopers to a gay bar in Dallas.”

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Todd Hill, secretary of the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, wrote via X, “We are always happy to have [Meza and Jones].” Hill also wrote that his group had hosted U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson (D-TX) and her accompanying Capitol Hill police officer, adding, “We appreciate everyone’s service.”

We are always happy to have Reps. Meza and @VentonJonesTX at meetings of @StonewallDalCo! We also hosted Congresswoman @juliejohnsonTX and her Capitol Hill police officer. We appreciate everyone’s service

Source: LGBTQ Nation