{"id":2552529,"date":"2026-01-26T08:47:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T13:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/records-anti-dei-republican-helped-install-ideology-at-texas-health-center\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T08:51:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T13:51:49","slug":"records-anti-dei-republican-helped-install-ideology-at-texas-health-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/records-anti-dei-republican-helped-install-ideology-at-texas-health-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Records: Anti-DEI Republican Helped Install Ideology at Texas Health Center"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frecords-anti-dei-republican-helped-install-ideology-at-texas-health-center%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2552529&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Daily Caller News Foundation report says Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt served on the board of the Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from January 2019 to March 2021 and participated in votes that approved contracts and funding for organizations promoting diversity,equity,and inclusion (DEI) and gender-focused programs. During his tenure the board awarded Justice system Partners a $151,000 contract to evaluate the center\u2019s jail diversion program; JSP has promoted equity-focused reforms and advocated changes such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/coopers-crime-record-under-scrutiny-after-charlotte-light-rail-killing\/\" title=\"Cooper&#039;s crime record under scrutiny after Charlotte light rail killing\">limiting cash bail<\/a>. The Harris Center also contracted with NAMI Greater Houston (including a $40,000 amendment and a later nearly $90,000 renewal) for staff trainings that the article says emphasized racial justice, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lets-talk-about-the-gender-poisoned-mass-shooter-trend-the-media-is-trying-to-hide\/\" title=\"Discussing the media&#039;s concealment of the ...-poisoned mass shooter trend\">culturally competent care<\/a>, and LGBTQ+ resources. The board added Gabriel Cazares\u2014described in coverage as a \u201cqueer, disabled Latinx\u201d advocate focused on intersectional equity\u2014to an advisory council in 2020. The report notes the diversion program partnered with Soros-backed prosecutor Kim Ogg and allowed thousands to avoid formal booking, with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-top-immigration-adviser-biden-agenda-would-fundamentally-erase-very-essence-of-americas-nationhood\/\" title=\"Ex-Top Immigration Adviser: Biden Agenda \u2018Would Fundamentally Erase Very Essence Of America\u2019s Nationhood\u2019\">high recidivism rate<\/a> (about 47% as of 2019) and some individuals cycling through the program many times.Hunt is quoted as opposing DEI publicly and his campaign said he pushed back against \u201cwoke\u201d policies and ultimately left the board rather than endorse them; the article also says he missed a large share of board meetings (over 70% between January 2019 and October 2020). The harris Center adopted a Cultural Competency and Diversity Plan, maintained a formal D&#038;I strategy, and listed LGBTQ-focused organizations like Montrose Counseling as stakeholders. The piece places these actions in the context of hunt\u2019s later congressional career and his public criticism of DEI initiatives.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_3)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Republican Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt took part in embedding divisive racial and gender ideology into a Texas health center, despite rallying against diversity, equity, and inclusion policies during his time in office.<\/p>\n<p>Hunt <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20200309180553\/https:\/\/wesleyfortexas.com\/meet-wesley\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">served<\/a> on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/wesley-hunt-for-congress\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">board<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theharriscenter.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities<\/a> from January 2019 to March 2021, during which time he took part in multiple votes to approve contracts and funding for pro-DEI and gender ideology groups, as well as the hiring of a &ldquo;queer, disabled Latin x&rdquo; individual. A jail diversion program Hunt helped oversee at the center also partnered with a Soros-backed prosecutor to let accused criminals walk away with minimal oversight &mdash; often resulting in repeat offenses.<\/p>\n<p>Records show Hunt was present for meetings in which lucrative contracts with organizations supporting leftist ideology were unanimously passed.<\/p>\n<p>The board awarded <a href=\"https:\/\/justicesystempartners.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Justice System Partners<\/a> a new $151,000 <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/October-23-2019-Justice-Center-Partners-Contract.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">contract<\/a> in October 2019 &ldquo;to provide an external evaluation of The Harris Center&rsquo;s jail diversion program,&rdquo; according to documents obtained by the DCNF.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.macfound.org\/grantee\/justice-system-partners-46097\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">left-leaning<\/a> organization has argued that &ldquo;structural racism exists both in society and within the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joe-biden-kicks-off-so-called-progressive-package-with-decades-old-policies\/\" title=\"Joe Biden kicks off so-called progressive package with decades-old policies\">criminal legal system<\/a>,&rdquo; and that the &ldquo;intersection&rdquo; of &ldquo;race, skin tone, gender, disability, sexuality, age, and income&rdquo; lead to unequal outcomes in the justice system, according to its website.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>In 2017, JSP <a href=\"https:\/\/justicesystempartners.org\/model-bail-law-rethinking-money-charge-based-bail-systems-light-american-legal-history-current-research-criminal-defendants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">advocated<\/a> ending cash bail for &ldquo;defendants charged with serious but not violent crimes,&rdquo; elevating analysts who argue it&rsquo;s a matter of &ldquo;personal freedom and liberty.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Between fiscal years <a href=\"https:\/\/projects.propublica.org\/nonprofits\/display_audit\/18329920201\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2020<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/projects.propublica.org\/nonprofits\/display_audit\/18329920211\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2021<\/a>, the Center paid JSP $130,000 for &ldquo;Consultation Services.&rdquo; During that time period, JSP, in collaboration with The Harris Center, published a <a href=\"https:\/\/justicesystempartners.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Diversion-Implementation-Guide-Final-Reduced.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">guide<\/a> calling for &ldquo;more just and equitable alternatives to incarceration&rdquo; for specific racial or ethnic groups.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 540px; margin: auto;\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DJCSUvEpSzR\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<div style=\"flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DJCSUvEpSzR\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A post d by Wesley Hunt (@wesleyfortexas)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p>JSP continued advancing that framework in its 2023 &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20231016012124\/https:\/\/justicesystempartners.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Equity-through-Action-A-Tool-for-Action-Planning.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Equity Through Action<\/a>&rdquo; plan, which called for restructuring decision-making authority to prioritize outcome equity and for &ldquo;diversifying decision-makers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;During his short time on the board, Wesley Hunt was one of the only voices pushing back. He challenged the left&rsquo;s ideological insanity head-on, and ultimately walked away rather than legitimize woke nonsense,&rdquo; a spokesman for Hunt&rsquo;s campaign told the Daily Caller News Foundation. &ldquo;That wasn&rsquo;t an endorsement. It was a warning sign.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;A wake-up call that hardened his resolve to dismantle these ideologies once and for all when he got to Congress. Even Elon Musk has commended Wesley on his anti-Woke and anti-DEI rhetoric and policies,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p>Hunt has been highly critical of DEI, <a href=\"https:\/\/hunt.house.gov\/media\/videos\/congressman-wesley-hunt-dismantles-dei-house-natural-resources-committee-hearing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">asserting<\/a> that such policies are &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sKgmJrE2-MI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">discriminatory<\/a>&rdquo; and that the focus should be on merit over race. Hunt <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxbusiness.com\/video\/6350791947112\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">celebrated<\/a> the University of Texas in 2024 for abolishing its DEI departments, positing that DEI was the cause of rising anti-Semitism and attacks on First Amendment rights.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The truth is simple: Wesley Hunt is surging, and the establishment is scrambling to stop him. We wish John Cornyn the best on his bronze place finish,&rdquo; the spokesman said.<\/p>\n<p>At another board meeting in 2019, a <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/JUNE-18-2019-NAMI-Contract-Amendment.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">co<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/JUNE-18-2019-NAMI-Contract-Amendment.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ntract<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/JUNE-18-2019-NAMI-Contract-Amendment.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">amendment<\/a> worth an additional $40,000 was <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/MINUTES-Resource-Committee-06-18-19sps-Harris-Center.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">approved<\/a> for the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Houston to provide staff trainings for the Jail Diversion Program. NAMI&rsquo;s 2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nami.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/\/NAMI-2019-State-Legislation-Report-FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">legislative review report<\/a> was littered with phrases such as &ldquo;racial injustice,&rdquo; &ldquo;lived experience,&rdquo; &ldquo;inclusive and culturally competent care,&rdquo; and &ldquo;racial profiling,&rdquo; and mentioned the &ldquo;stigma and discrimination&rdquo; associated with &ldquo;Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQI+&rdquo; communities.<\/p>\n<p>In 2020, Hunt was <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/MINUTES-Resource-Committee-6-16-2020-Hunt.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">present<\/a> when the board unanimously approved a <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/June-16-2020-NAMI-Contrasct-Renewal.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">contract renewal<\/a> for NAMI to the tune of nearly $90,000. Shortly after, NAMI Greater Houston <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20200930050625\/https:\/namigreaterhouston.org\/resources-for-minority-community\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">promoted<\/a> &ldquo;Minority&rdquo; resources for &ldquo;Unlearning and Transforming Racism,&rdquo; according to an archived version of the website, which led to a <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20200926155344\/https:\/\/gratefulness.org\/featured_resources\/resources-for-unlearning-and-transforming-racism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">site<\/a> explaining that the phrase &ldquo;All Lives Matter&rdquo; was &ldquo;problematic&rdquo; and featured links for &ldquo;Deconstructing White Privilege&rdquo; and understanding &ldquo;racism in America.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A May 2020 NAMI Greater Houston <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nami.org\/nami-news\/namis-statement-on-recent-racist-incidents-and-mental-health-resources-for-african-americans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">page<\/a> also called racism &ldquo;a public health crisis.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>NAMI <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NAMI-Greater-Houston_Texas-Mental-Health-Public-Policy-Priorities-2022_23.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">openly advocates<\/a> for addressing &ldquo;disparities in [mental health and substance use disorder] services and trauma for people of color&hellip; LGBTQ+ persons, children in foster care, and other groups.&rdquo; NAMI&rsquo;s website actively promotes resources for &ldquo;LGBTQ+&rdquo; and &ldquo;Transgender youth,&rdquo; including <a href=\"https:\/\/lgbthotline.org\/youth-talkline\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">talklines<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/lgbthotline.org\/youthchatrooms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">chatrooms<\/a> for those under 19 years old to discuss &ldquo;sexual orientation or gender identity\/expression issues.&rdquo; The organization also supports &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nami.org\/community-and-culture\/black-african-american\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Culturally Competent Care<\/a>&rdquo; that focuses specifically on race.<\/p>\n<p>In a February 2020 meeting with Hunt present, the board <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Minutes-for-Full-Board-2-26-20.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">unanimously voted<\/a> to add Gabriel Cazares to the Intellectual Developmental Disabilities Public Advisory Council (IDD-PAC) as an &ldquo;Organizational Representative,&rdquo; meeting documents show. Cazares at the time was director of the Mayor&rsquo;s Office for People with Disabilities, where he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/gmcazares\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">used<\/a> the position to &ldquo;embe[d] equity and access across all departments&rdquo; to &ldquo;ensure full civic participation for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, and low-income disabled communities,&rdquo; and to deliver disability rights training &ldquo;through a justice-oriented, intersectional lens,&rdquo; according to his LinkedIn.<\/p>\n<p>Cazares&rsquo;s prior experience included The Latino Racial Justice Circle, a group he said &ldquo;financially supports&rdquo; those <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >facing immigration-related legal costs<\/a> and worked to &ldquo;educate&rdquo; the public about &ldquo;undocumented communities&rdquo; by &ldquo;centering their voices and experiences,&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/gmcazares\/details\/volunteering-experiences\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">according<\/a> to his LinkedIn.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: .9em; font-weight: normal; width: 97%; line-height: 110%; text-align: center; max-width: 800px; margin: auto; margin-top: -10px;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">Harris Center Board Of Trustees Meeting Document (Photo Credit: Daily Caller News Foundation)<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n<p>Cazares was described as &ldquo;a queer, disabled Latin x&rdquo; person who is &ldquo;particularly drawn to intersectional movements that center the voices of queer, disabled, and immigrant people of color,&rdquo; in a 2020 <a href=\"https:\/\/equalitytexas.org\/blog\/-your-pride-meet-gabe-cazares\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Q&amp;A<\/a> with Equality Texas. He told the organization that &ldquo;wokeness&rdquo; must go beyond social media comments, asking, &ldquo;What are you doing on a daily basis to examine your privilege, the ways you benefit from White supremacy, and what steps are you taking to dismantle those systems of oppression?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In 2018, before Hunt joined the board, the Center partnered with the first <a href=\"https:\/\/capitalresearch.org\/article\/living-room-pundits-updated-guide-to-soros-district-attorneys\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Soros-backed<\/a> district attorney in Texas, Kim Ogg, as part of a <a href=\"https:\/\/diversion.ndaa.org\/case-studies\/78260\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">jail diversion program<\/a> for the mentally ill. The program allowed more than 6,000 offenders to sidestep incarceration before being formally charged, and leave of their own volition at any time &ldquo;in order to avoid booking people in the jail entirely.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Soros reportedly spent upwards of half a million dollars to get Ogg elected in 2016.<\/p>\n<p>According to a Harris Center <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texasjcmh.gov\/media\/3uknlbr4\/the-harris-center-for-mh-and-idd.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">slideshow presentation<\/a>, the majority of individuals it serves have committed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ghctexas.com\/class-b-misdemeanors-in-texas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Class B misdemeanor<\/a>, the second most severe, which can include criminal mischief, DWI, property theft, and criminal trespassing.<\/p>\n<p>The Center also serves a small portion of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ghctexas.com\/class-a-misdemeanors-texas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Class A misdemeanor<\/a> offenders, the highest level non-felony offense in the state, which includes domestic assault, DWI, criminal trespassing, property theft of up to $2,500, vehicular burglary, and resisting arrest. These crimes are usually punishable by up to a year in jail and\/or a fine of up to $4,000 in Texas.<\/p>\n<p>About 47 percent of individuals brought into the Harris Center&rsquo;s diversion program went on to <a href=\"https:\/\/repositories.lib.utexas.edu\/server\/api\/core\/bitstreams\/3890a209-75d9-4450-a8ef-f1dfb233a28c\/content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reoffend<\/a> as of 2019. Some offenders returned to the diversion center over 20 times, and one individual was brought back around 80 times, the organization&rsquo;s CEO <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texasobserver.org\/travis-county-jail-mental-health-diversion\/#:~:text=County%20leaders%20also%20consistently%20note,or%20facing%20the%20wrong%20charge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">told<\/a> the Texas Observer in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>One Harris County woman who was arrested in 2020 for methamphetamine possession spent two years rotating between jail, diversion programs, and mental health treatments, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2022\/11\/22\/us\/jails-deaths.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">according<\/a> to The New York Times. Despite being declared unfit to stand trial due to &ldquo;severe and abnormal mental health, emotional or physical distress,&rdquo; the woman was allowed to visit her newborn daughter, and was promptly &ldquo;charged with stomping, kicking and striking her.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Though Hunt voted for a DEI agenda at several board meetings, he was noticeably absent from other key votes. Hunt reportedly missed more than 70 percent of the board&rsquo;s meetings from January 2019 to October 2020, <a href=\"https:\/\/lonestarproject.net\/2020\/10\/23\/wesley-hollywood-hunt-keeps-skipping-healthcare-responsibilities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">according<\/a> to the Lone Star Project. Similarly, in Congress, Hunt missed the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/12\/16\/us-news\/california-gov-hopeful-eric-swalwell-neglects-job-in-house-to-mingle-with-celebs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">most votes<\/a> of any Republican in 2025, and even more than Democratic Arizona Rep. Ra&uacute;l Grijalva, who died in March.<\/p>\n<p>At a 2019 meeting Hunt did not attend, the board passed a two-year <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Cultural-Diversity-Plan-August-28-2019-Harris-Center.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cultural Competency and Diversity Plan<\/a>, which is described as &ldquo;a framework to embed cultural diversity in all the department&rsquo;s services, programs and policies.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The plan defines &ldquo;cultural competence&rdquo; as &ldquo;staying open-minded&rdquo; and commits the center to annual &ldquo;diversity and cultural competency&rdquo; training for all staff, including instruction on gender, sexual orientation, spiritual beliefs, and other identity factors, with an emphasis on promoting &ldquo;inclusion.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Harris Center also <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Harris-Center-FY21-22-Budget-Request-Equity-Diversity.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">boasted<\/a> its &ldquo;formal Diversity and Inclusion (D&amp;I) strategy,&rdquo; which it uses &ldquo;to track meaningful D&amp;I metrics&rdquo; and &ldquo;for attracting diverse candidates,&rdquo; according to its fiscal year 2021-22 budget. It also mentioned a &ldquo;staff-composed Diversity and Inclusion council,&rdquo; the &ldquo;Harris Center Inclusion Hub.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The budget <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Harris-Center-FY21-22-Budget-Request-Key-Stakeholder.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">listed<\/a> Montrose Counseling as a &ldquo;key external stakeholder.&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/montrosecenter.org\/services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Montrose<\/a> is an organization focused on &ldquo;LGBTQ+&rdquo; that hosts <a href=\"https:\/\/montrosecenter.org\/community-center\/blog\/gsa-training-2019\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gender and Sexuality Alliance<\/a> trainings and <a href=\"https:\/\/montrosecenter.org\/community-center\/blog\/montrose-center-responds-to-texas-supreme-court-decision-upholding-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-for-transgender-youth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">speaks out against<\/a> bans on sex changes for children.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;To our trans youth, I want to say this: We see you. We love you. We are here for you,&rdquo; Montrose wrote in response to the Texas Supreme Court decision upholding the state&rsquo;s ban on sex changes for minors.<\/p>\n<p>The DCNF previously <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2025\/12\/04\/anti-dei-republican-helped-make-racial-gender-ideology-foundational-at-prestigious-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reported<\/a> Hunt&rsquo;s ties to Houston&rsquo;s prestigious St. John&rsquo;s School, where he seemingly helped make DEI &ldquo;foundational&rdquo; to its policies and curriculum.<\/p>\n<p>Hunt first ran for Congress in 2020 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonpublicmedia.org\/articles\/news\/politics\/2022\/03\/02\/420265\/wesley-hunt-wins-the-gop-nomination-in-houstons-newest-congressional-district\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">earned<\/a> the Republican nomination, though he was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox26houston.com\/news\/candidates-lizzie-fletcher-and-wesley-hunt-battle-it-out-for-texas-district-7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">defeated<\/a> by Democrat incumbent Lizzie Fletcher. He was later <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox26houston.com\/news\/wesley-hunt-wins-re-election-us-house-representative-texass-38th-district\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">elected<\/a> to Texas&rsquo; 38th Congressional district in 2023 and won reelection in 2024.<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p><em>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter&rsquo;s byline and their DCNF affiliation. 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