LIBERTY HILL, Texas — Some residents in Liberty Hill are raising concerns over what they say is a lack of respect from city leaders.
In 2023, Liberty Hill issued a Pride proclamation in June. In 2024, it's a different story.
Community members say they expected at least a bullying proclamation be issued at Wednesday's meeting. After public comment, there was no mention of any proclamation for bullying or Pride, leaving some residents disappointed in the city.
"I mean, there were people lined up on the street with American flags and Bibles. It was wild experience," Amanda Crossland said, referencing what happened last year when the city issued a Pride proclamation.
Crossland said that gesture ran deep after her son came out.
"Eventually, he either, you know, felt comfortable enough or pressured enough to tell. And 10 days later, he died," Crossland said.
Crossland's son, Jaycee, died by suicide. Since then, she's made it her mission to support other kids. But she said the current city government isn't doing enough.
"It's just crazy to me how we go from having a lesbian mayor, to now to having a mayor that backs Pride, to just not even ... not even acknowledging us. And that's my biggest problem with all of this," Crossland said.
Wednesday night, community members expected leaders to at least approve an anti-bullying proclamation. But there was no mention from the council. Former Mayor Liz Branigan, who accepted last year's proclamation, said she wants city leaders to do better.
"When the marching band went to state, I told the school district and they gave them a similar sendoff," Branigan said. "If we're going to do good things for some of our children, we need to do good things for all of our children."
Branigan said she knows this community can come together because she's seen it happen.
"This is a good, strong community. And growing in the manner it is now, we need to make sure that it continues," Branigan said.
Crossland said during public comment that for as long as she is in Liberty Hill, she will advocate for a proclamation like this to be recognized.