The full court press (in every sense) for marriage equality continues, with Texas being the latest state to see a lawsuit challenging its marriage ban. Two couples, Mark Pharris and Vic Holmes and Cleopatra De Leon and Nicole Dimetman, have filed a suit arguing that the state’s ban on same-sex marriages violates the U.S. Constitution.
“In Texas, Plaintiffs cannot legally marry their partner before family, friends, and society — a right enjoyed by citizens who wish to marry a person of the opposite sex. And should they become married in a state that has established marriage equality, Texas explicitly voids their marriage,” said the suit. “There is no rational basis, much less a compelling government purpose, for Texas to deny plaintiffs the same right to marry enjoyed by the majority of society.” Of course, “rational basis” and “Texas politics” aren’t phrases often used in the same sentence. Needless to say, Gov. Rick Perry, whose disastrous presidential campaign was marked by antipathy toward anything gay, staunchly opposes any change to the Texas ban.“The governor agrees with the majority of Texans, who voted to define marriage in the Texas Constitution as between one man and one woman,” spokeswoman Lucy Nashed told the San Antonio Express-News. Among those that the governor is agreeing with: the Ku Klux Klan, which held a rally for in support of the 2005 ballot measure that Perry holds so dear.
SilverRayne
living in this state sucks. Especially in the middle of nowhere woodsy area where I live. everyone knows each other, and most are members of local churches (catholic, LOADS of baptist, mormon, and jehovah witness). Everyday I fear someone will learn of my sexuality.I would like to settle down and marry one day, adopt kids. But as long as this state continues to go on the way it does, that will be a dream I’ll have to move elsewhere to realise.
Charles P
@SilverRayne: You can always move you know. If you can afford it I mean.
jtnabilene
West Texas, where my partner and I live, is largely Southern Baptist so combine that with the Texas law against same-sex marriage and … don’t hold your breath. This suit will have to go beyond the state courts and on to the US Supreme Court since the state Supreme Court is elected by the same Baptist that support the state ban and/or appointed by Gov. Perry. My partner and I have been together for almost 40 years and I am retired while he is a disabled Veteran. Marriage would not benefit us except as a term since it would mean that my income was counted towards his status and would effectively reduce his disability income by fifty percent. Yes, it would be nice to have all the benefits of marriage without having to have all sorts of legal documents stating who was who and what was what like we have done over the years, but it would change very little for us. I hold little hope for Texas allowing same-sex marriage in my life time…it will be the 50th state to do so is my prediction.
VanessaAlmeida
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jwrappaport
@SilverRayne: Jehovah’s Witnesses generally don’t vote. It’s the others I’d worry about.