Tarrant commissioners reject Girls Inc. funding over social issues

Commissioners rejected sending state funds to Girls Inc. of Tarrant County Tuesday, after dozens of residents raised concerns about the organization’s support of LGBTQ issues and abortion rights.

“The county government should not be funding, nor should the county government be passing through money from some other source, for an organization that is so deeply ideological and encourages the children that they are teaching to go advocate for social change,” County Judge Tim O’Hare said.

Girls Inc. of Tarrant County offers school-based and community programming for 5- to 18-year-old girls. It was one of five organizations that applied for and were approved to receive grant funding from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Tarrant County administers the request for applications and picks the prospective recipients.

Of $675,000 in state funds, $115,334 was earmarked for Girls Inc. of Tarrant County’s ‘Girl Power!’ program, a two-part program focusing on self-esteem, stress management, healthy relationships and hygiene. Girls Inc. planned to offer that programming to families in the 76106, 76164, 76112 and 76119 ZIP codes.

Commissioners O’Hare, Gary Fickes and Manny Ramirez, all Republicans, voted to reject giving those funds to Girls Inc. of Tarrant County. Commissioners Roy Brooks and Alisa Simmons, both Democrats, voted unsuccessfully to give Girls Inc. the funds.

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