Texas Representative Venton Jones (D–Dallas) shocked friends and colleagues last week when he got down on one knee and proposed to his longtime partner, Gregory Scott Jr., on the House floor in the State Capitol. The proposal took place moments after Jones was sworn in on the first day of the legislative session.

 

In 2022, Jones, who is living with HIV, became one of the first Black gay men elected to the Texas Legislature. Last week marked the start of his second term as representative for House District 100, which includes parts of Dallas and Dallas County.

 

“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 told local news outlet WFAA-TV. “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.” 

 

This is so wonderful! ❤️

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— George Takei (@georgetakei.bsky.social) January 19, 2025 at 3:30 PM

Jones said he and Scott “stand as proof that progress is unstoppable, and no amount of hate can erase the truth of who we are.”

 

“Our love symbolizes resilience, and our story reminds us that love can and will always overcome hate,” he said.

 

Following his proposal, Jones addressed the room and said he plans to use his power as House Democratic Caucus whip and vice chair of the LGBTQ Caucus “to protect all Texans.”

 

In a 2022 interview with POZ, Jones said: “As a person who lives at the intersection of being Black, gay and a person living with HIV, I learned to be fearless not only in fighting for my own life but also in fighting for the lives of the people around me, my village.”

 

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A post shared by Venton Jones (@ventonjones)

 

Throughout his career, Jones has advocated for health equity and social justice for marginalized communities in the South. Today, he works with numerous organizations in support of this mission, including as chairman of the Dallas County HIV Task Force and vice chair of the Ryan White Planning Council of the Dallas area.

 

Jones is also the CEO of the Southern Black Policy and Advocacy Network, a nonprofit that works to train and mobilize a new generation of public health leaders.

 

“My policy work was so much deeper than just HIV. It was about ending racism and discrimination, improving economic outcomes and social justice and building bridges for communities to have their seat at the tables of power and influence,” he told POZ.