March 2nd 2025.
L'Oreal Stepney, a Black woman and the chairwoman of the Texas Water Development Board, found herself at the center of a heated debate on diversity, equity, and inclusion during a recent subcommittee hearing at the Texas House of Representatives. What was supposed to be a routine budget discussion quickly turned into a referendum on DEI initiatives in state agencies.
As reported by KUT News, Republican Rep. Brian Harrison took the floor and began questioning Chairwoman Stepney on the agency's hiring practices and whether they were in line with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order to eliminate DEI initiatives. For over 15 minutes, Stepney faced a barrage of questions from Harrison, who even went as far as reading the agency's strategic plan.
This relentless line of questioning, which forced Stepney to defend her qualifications and years of public service, became too much for her to handle, and she broke down in tears. It was a rare and emotional moment for the usually composed chairwoman.
According to Chron.com, Stepney, who was appointed by Gov. Abbott and later defended by him on social media, admitted that she doesn't usually get emotional. However, she also took the opportunity to highlight her nearly 33 years of working for the State of Texas and listed her impressive qualifications, including degrees in civil and aerospace engineering from the University of Texas.
While Abbott's stance against DEI initiatives may have fueled the contentious atmosphere of the hearing, Stepney expressed her gratitude to the governor and reiterated that serving Texas was a great honor for her. "I have spent my career fighting for Texas, even when I faced opposition from other agencies like the EPA, IBWC, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It has been a privilege to serve this state," she said, holding back tears.
But Harrison's attacks did not stop with Stepney; he also went after another Black board member, Deputy Executive Administrator Edna Jackson, and acting Chief Financial Officer Georgia Sanchez. This sparked outrage from other lawmakers, including State Representative Ron Reynolds, who released a statement condemning Harrison's insensitive comments and questioning.
Rep. Armando Martinez also came to Stepney's defense, stating that they stand by their highly qualified and respected chairwoman and not by members who try to score political points at her expense. The situation even prompted Gov. Abbott to tweet his support for Stepney and denounce Harrison's attempt to humiliate her.
Rep. Nicole Collier, a Black Democrat representing Fort Worth, also joined in the discussion and clarified that the "historically underutilized business" requirements in the board's guiding documents did not mention race explicitly, as Harrison had claimed earlier. She also expressed her frustration at having to justify her Blackness and defended the need to address systemic racism that has existed for over 246 years.
The exchange between Harrison and Collier prompted Rep. Armando Walle, the chair of the subcommittee, to step in and comfort Stepney before addressing Harrison and his offensive line of questioning. "We've had enough of these attacks on people's character and qualifications based on the color of their skin. We are all proud Americans, and this flag represents all of us. The rhetoric, the comments, the insinuations, and the attacks on character must stop. This has to end," he said passionately.
The incident at the Texas State Capitol serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate on diversity, equity, and inclusion and the importance of addressing systemic racism in our society. It is a call for unity and understanding, and for putting an end to divisive and hurtful rhetoric. As lawmakers and leaders, it is our responsibility to create a more inclusive and equitable society for all.
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