"Wow": Texas Representative Venton Jones Proposes to His Partner at the State Capitol – Video

In a historic display of love and authenticity, the Texas lawmaker transformed the State Capitol into the backdrop for a life-changing moment, popping the big question to his lover on the house floor amid cheers from the crowd.

Texas State Representative Venton Jones made history with a heartwarming gesture at the State Capitol in Austin, proposing to his longtime partner, Gregory Scott Jr. The touching proposal took place on January 14, shortly after Venton was sworn in for his second term in office, sparking online buzz.

Venton, one of the first Black gay men to serve in the Texas legislature, surprised his partner during the opening session of the new legislative term.

As the house went into recess, he dropped to one knee and asked Gregory to marry him, surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues who were there to celebrate the beginning of his second term.

In a video posted by WFAA's senior reporter Jason Whitely, cheers erupted from the crowd as Venton slipped the engagement ring onto Gregory's finger.

One woman shouted "Put a ring on it," as the couple sealed the proposal with a kiss and a sweet hug. Gregory, visibly overjoyed, smiled and said, "You got it," to which Venton excitedly responded, "Yeah, I got it."

After the proposal, a woman off-camera asked Venton what happened, and he proudly declared, "We just got engaged on the house floor." Gregory, beaming with happiness, showed off his new engagement ring as the crowd continued to applaud.

The proposal quickly gained attention online, with social media users sharing their excitement and congratulating the couple.

One user wrote, "love this! so awesome to see love and partnership in action [sic]!" Another commented, "Congratulations. Love is love."

A third user couldn't help but compliment the couple's appearance, "Oh, they're both good looking [sic]." Others expressed their joy with comments such as, "Adorable! I'm happy for them," and another remark simply saying, "Just. Wow."

Another supporter shared warm wishes, "Wishing this handsome couple every joy!!!" Finally, someone summed up the sentiment with, "Sweet!"

Venton's proposal marks a milestone not only in his personal life but also as a significant moment of representation at the Texas Capitol, showing love and partnership celebrated openly on the political stage.

The proposal happened during the opening day of the 89th Texas legislative session, marking a significant milestone in both Venton's political career and personal life.

In a post on X dated January 13, he shared details of the swearing-in ceremony, expressing excitement about his second term as the State Representative for House District 100.

Venton invited constituents to attend a Capitol Reception after the session to meet his team and learn more about the legislative agenda.

His proposal to Gregory, however, became the day's most memorable highlight. The unexpected moment brought joy to an otherwise formal occasion and shed light on a powerful message about love and authenticity in politics.

Venton later reflected on the proposal in a follow-up post on X, dated January 15. He wrote:

"In a time when our love and our very existence are challenged, often in the halls of this very building, this moment is a reminder that love conquers. Today, we stand as proof that progress is unstoppable, and no amount of hate can erase the truth of who we are."

Venton and Gregory's relationship has been a constant source of support throughout the politician's career. The couple has shared their journey publicly through several social media posts in recent months.

In a Facebook post from December 20, 2024, Venton shared a photo of himself and Gregory at a Dallas Mavericks game, captioning the picture, "Cheering on the @DallasMavs this evening as they take on the Clippers in Dallas."

Just days later, on December 29, Venton posted again, this time about a vacation the couple took to Palm Springs to relax and recharge after a challenging year. He penned:

"Wheels up to Palm Springs for a much needed vacation. 2024 was a doozie, full of challenges and growth. Time to finally get some down time, but most importantly some uninterrupted US time away. Dallas, we will see yall in 2025 [sic]!!!"

The couple's bond has been evident in the way they support each other both in private and in public. Gregory has stood by Venton since the beginning of his political journey.

Speaking to the American-Statesman on January 14, Venton said that Gregory has been part of his life since before he took office, first as a friend and later as his partner.

Reflecting on the proposal, the 40-year-old added, "I thought it would be so important to be able to start this session on a note of love and just joy."

For Gregory, the moment was a complete surprise. "It was such a surreal moment," he said. "It wasn't until I went back and watched the videos, I was like, 'Oh wow, that really happened.'"

Venton described the atmosphere on the house floor as overwhelmingly positive, with colleagues cheering for the couple as they marked the special occasion. "In the moment in which I proposed, it was amazing to be surrounded by cheers from my colleagues," he told the American-Statesman.

For Venton, being authentic and true has always been a core value, both in his personal life and in politics. "It's so important to be authentic in this space, because the issues that we're dealing with right now are real," he said.

For the newly-engaged couple, this special moment marks the start of a new chapter — both in their relationship and in the legislative work ahead.