Finally! Some conservative representation during 'Pride Month'

Although Austin's "Pride Month" is typically recognized in August, the city's CBS affiliate was out in full force this month with its "All in Y'all" televised special. 

Airing on KEYE-TV, Chanel 42, on Tuesday (June 27) following the 6 o'clock news, the special was about as favorable to the liberal-progressive side as one would generally expect in terms of its presentation. But despite the framing of the issues with left-of-center terminology and imagery (e.g. calling bills designed to protect women and minors "anti-LGBTQIA+" and so forth), CBS Austin, in partnership with the Texas Tribune, did a relatively bold thing: 

They provided viewers a balanced room of panelists and audience members during a town hall-style program following the special! No, seriously, they did. No moderate Republicans with social-left sympathies, either -- actual socially conservative Republicans. The town hall aired immediately after a news package on sexuality bills that passed or failed during the recently concluded 88th regular legislative session. 

Here was the lineup:

• Co-host John-Carlos Estrada, CBS Austin
• Co-host Will Melhado, The Texas Tribune
• Panelist Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (Democrat)
• Panelist Rep. James Talarico (Democrat)
• Panelist Michelle Evans, Independent Women’s Network (former GOP HD 136 candidate)
• Panelist Mary Elizabeth Castle, Director of Government Relations, Texas Values Action
• Alicia Roth Weigel, "intersex" activist
• "Celia Light," Austin drag entertainer (in full costume)
• Janson Woodlee, The Equality Alliance
• Laura Davis, Williamson Co. GOP voter
• Leslie Winters, Williamson Co. GOP voter
• Shauna Kinningham, Williamson Co. GOP voter

Given: the forum was sandwiched (okay, practically buried) in CBS Austin's own coverage of it. Here's the direct link to the video in case you're tired of scrolling. We understand it also aired on numerous stations in Texas owned by Sinclair Broadcasting, CBS Austin's parent company.

Conservatives may have a long way to go before being fully represented in the mainstream media on these "culture war" issues (as Rep. Talarico called them, who also dismissed Evans's and Castle's points as "not good faith"). But this was a major step forward both for objectivity in the media and healing some of the vitriol we've experienced lately regarding human sexuality issues.

Thank you, CBS Austin.