The Austin Chronicle

https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2015-06-27/the-zimmerman-rules/

The Zimmerman Rules

By Michael King, June 27, 2015, 1:00pm, Newsdesk

While most Austinites saw their social media feeds bubble with celebration and rainbows on Friday, following the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage, not everybody was in a festive mood. Take District 6 Council Member Don Zimmerman … please!

In response to a Facebook poster who compared homophobia to racism, Zimmerman posted:

“Replace [gay with] pedophile, then explain how you can justify denying marriage happiness to a couple in love based on age discrimination. In fact there is no such thing as “pedophilia,” only “intergenerational love.” Explain why you are a pedophobe and why you’re opposed to love and equal rights. Who gives you the right to pass judgment against those you disagree with?”

Other posters attempted to explain to the Council Member the difference between consenting adults and children, but Zimmerman was undaunted. “Some believe pedophilia should be legal,” the Council Member wrote. “What gives you the right to judge them as criminals? Why are your morals superior to theirs? Or are you waiting for the Supreme Court to decide your moral questions?”

“Who gave you the right to pass judgment regarding the ‘age of consent,’” Zimmerman continued. "If ‘scientific studies’ and the Supreme Court decide that your outdated morals regarding age of consent violate someone’s right to ‘intergenerational marriage,’ you’d be fine with that? Of course you would, because that’s the basis of your morality today. So gloat on.”

In sum, City Council Member Don Zimmerman at least purports to comprehend no moral or legal difference between adult, gay Americans having the same marital rights as their heterosexual neighbors … and legalizing pedophilia. Indeed, he can’t seem to grasp the difference between adults and children.

The D6 Council Member is holding a Town Hall meeting this afternoon, where reportedly some Austinites will be trying to explain the difference to him.

District 6 Town Hall

Saturday June 27 from 1:30-3pm

Lord of Life Lutheran Church (9700 Neenah Ave)

From the press release: "APD will be on hand to discuss property crimes. TXDoT and Austin Transportation will be there to discuss Parmer Lane improvements."

Copyright © 2025 Austin Chronicle Corporation. All rights reserved.