Mother’s Day dinner this year was extra special for one North Texas family, the Briggles, when they hosted Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke.
On Late Night with Seth Meyers, the Texas gubernatorial candidate talked about cooking the meal (a home recipe for burgers, broccoli, and potatoes), playing some music, and hanging out with the family who’ve become emblematic of the state-sponsored attacks on some Texas families.
“I wanted to show up on Mother’s Day, cook a great meal, bring some flowers, have a beer, and just make sure that we shined a light on this loving family so that our fellow Texans understand what’s at stake,” O’Rourke told Meyers.
“I wanted to show up on Mother’s Day, cook a great meal, bring some flowers, have a beer, and just make sure that we shined a light on this loving family so that our fellow Texans understand what’s at stake.” – @BetoORourke pic.twitter.com/AewarCgIt2
— Late Night with Seth Meyers (@LateNightSeth) May 11, 2022
The Briggles are no strangers to visits from politicians. Six years ago, they invited Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over for dinner. Amber and Adam Briggle are the parents of a teenage transgender son, Max, and they wanted to discuss equality for transgender people, specifically protecting trans kids in public school, which Paxton opposed. Earlier this year, instead of getting support from the state of Texas, the Briggles found out that they were being investigated for child abuse by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at the direction Gov. Greg Abbott, who says that evidence-based, lifesaving, gender-affirming care could constitute “child abuse.” In fact, every major medical association supports gender-affirming care and opposes legislation that would criminalize it.
Since that meeting with Paxton, say the Briggles, things have only gotten worse. This year, Amber introduced the world to her family in a GLAAD PSA, and she presented the video for the first time at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles in April.
“I want parents everywhere to know that my child is no different than any other,” said Amber from the GLAAD Media Awards stage. In an emotional speech, Briggle offered a directive for the entertainment industry leaders in the audience: “When you’re making TV shows and movies and writing stories on the news, I am begging you: Humanize and normalize families with trans kids and trans people of every age and background.”
Back at home, the attacks on families like hers, says Amber, “are going to keep happening unless someone stands up and stops them,” of the upcoming general election in which Abbott faces off against challenger O’Rourke.
“Few people have as much at stake in his campaign as we do. It’s as simple as if he wins we get to keep our lives here,” Adam Briggle told WFAA.
View and share the heartwarming PSA at Equality-Now.org, a one-stop-shop for resources, education, and taking action to support families with transgender kids, and all trans people.
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About GLAAD: GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org and connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.