[1] Active in the fight for gay rights, Maxey was a central figure in the establishment of facilities for the education and care of HIV-infected individuals, especially the AIDS Services of Austin (ASA).

Maxey first entered politics in 1968 as a volunteer on the Texas Democratic Primary campaign of Senator Eugene McCarthy.

In 1980, while teaching in Navasota, Maxey joined the successful campaign of Kent Caperton, a candidate for the Texas State Senate.

Caperton, a young Bryan attorney who was seeking to unseat the legendary "Bull of the Brazos," William T. "Bill" Moore.

In 2001, Maxey discussed this watershed moment in HIV and AIDS awareness in an interview with the Austin Chronicle: As Maxey recalls the episode, "It was very early in the AIDS crisis, the disease wasn't very well understood, and the commissioner of health began talking about declaring HIV a 'quarantinable disease.'

So we called committee hearings, and I contacted Dr. Mathilde Krim, at the time the foremost authority on AIDS and an advocate for patients.

During his six terms in the Texas House, Maxey served on committees including Appropriations, Public Health, Administration, Pensions and Investments, Cultural Affairs and Human Services.

While passing hundreds of bills through the process, Maxey was also well known for his abilities to defeat bad legislation through use of the rules and parliamentary procedures.

The proclamation reads: “WHEREAS, Glen Maxey passed hundreds of bills and substantive amendments and was well known for his ability to defeat bad legislation through the use of the rules and parliamentary procedures; and WHEREAS, Glen Maxey gained national and local attention for being the first openly gay legislature of the Texas Legislature and becoming one of the leading advocates for LGBT rights in America; and WHEREAS, Glen Maxey played a leading role in passing the Children’s Health Insurance Program; and WHEREAS, in six terms, Maxey served on committees including Appropriations, Public Health, Administration, Pensions, and Investments and was the most prolific bill sponsor in the Texas House, passing more legislation than any other member of the body; and NOW, THEREFORE, it is fitting and proper for I, Steve Adler, Mayor of the City of Austin, Texas, do hereby proclaim and extend grateful appreciation to Glen Maxey for his impact on our city, county, state, and country.” Maxey's final term in the Texas House ended in January, 2003.