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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas LGBTQ community lost one of its giants |
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with the death of civil rights attorney Donald J. Maison of Dallas |
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on February 21, 2022, at the age of 74; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Donald J. Maison Sr. and Lucille Crevier |
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Maison, Don Maison was born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, on May 18, |
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1947; he graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington and |
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St. Mary's University School of Law, and his passion for social |
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justice drove his career; in the wake of raids on gay clubs, he |
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pursued litigation that sparked change in the Dallas Police |
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Department; he successfully sued Parkland Memorial Hospital in |
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behalf of AIDS patients struggling to access treatment, and his |
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victories further included a lengthy class action discrimination |
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suit against Southwest Airlines; after becoming president and CEO |
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of AIDS Services of Dallas in 1988, he overcame many challenges to |
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transform the organization into a national model, which today |
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provides housing and support services for low-income men, women, |
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and children living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS; his remarkable |
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tenure spanned 32 years until his retirement; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Maison gave generously of his time and expertise |
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in such leadership roles as co-chair of the National AIDS Housing |
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Coalition, director for the Texas AIDS Network, and member of the |
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Dallas EMA Health Services Planning Council, the National AIDS |
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Communications Roundtable, and the Dallas Homeless Consortium; |
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long involved in Democratic politics, he helped move the state and |
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local party in a more progressive direction and served as a precinct |
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chair, election judge, and member of the state executive committee; |
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in his leisure time, he was an avid world traveler, forming many |
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lasting friendships while exploring local cultures and availing |
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himself of public transportation; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his exceptional contributions, Don Maison |
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made a profound difference in countless lives, and he will be |
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remembered with deep admiration and affection by all who were |
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privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Donald J. Maison |
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and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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partner, Richmond Morris; to his sisters, Joan Maison Dopp, Lisa |
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Maison Ceunick, and Kathleen Maison Cohen; and to his other |
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relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Don Maison. |