Gay Rights Bill Filed on Valentine’s Day
State Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, filed a bill Thursday to permit same-sex couples to marry, calling it a "Valentine's Day gift to all Texans."
His measure is one of several bills filed recently that deal with gay rights issues.
State Sen. José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, filed Senate Bill 538, which would take the term "homosexual conduct" out of the penal code.
In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court found that Texas laws banning sodomy were unconstitutional. Though such laws cannot be enforced anymore, some are still technically on the books. Rodríguez's bill would nix the ...
Comments (19)
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I have faith that the Supreme Court will take care of this issue this summer.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Yup, they will leave the issue alone
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Matthew, considering that DoMA is unconstitutional, I don't see that happening. They've already agreed to hear two cases this year, I'm pretty sure they'll rule on at least one of them, if not both. The time for discrimination against gays to end is coming.
Aldo Merino via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Even if the Supreme Court rules favorably for equal rights, I have no doubt Texas lawmakers will do their utmost to impede the consequences of the decision as much as possible, as they consistently do with everything else under the sun.
Because you know, small government, judicial activism, or whatever canard they come up with.
Jeremy Jones via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@Renee, when you say "take care of this issue" I hope you mean allowing gay couples to same governmental rights as straight folks.
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Jeremy, absolutely (see my second comment).
Mac Mcclure via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Wonder Planned Parenthood backs the bill?
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
DOMA finding was only in one of the federal districts. It does not necessarily hold for the rest of the land. The fact it is now an issue in other jurisdiction makes it ripe for review of supreme court. The difference between what DOMA. And other cases is that DOma was a federal law and the others are state issues. Nothing in the issues at the state level actually conflicts with constitutional issues. Expect a 5 to 4 decision in favor of californias. Proposition againt gay marriage.
Mike Franklin via Texas Tribune on Facebook
really in Texas, really...I don't think so
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Except the states, incmuding Texas, are in violation of the equal protection clause by denying the validity of gay marriage contracts from other states where gay marriage is legal.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Equal protection clause is not applicable Renee. The equal protection clause applies within the state. It is not about a marriage license in one state to the next. A state can define marriage as it see fit without regard to what another state defines it as.
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It does apply because it specifically says all persons will have equal protection under the law. That is not happening for gays. Marriage is a legal contract, and states are required to recognize the validity of marriage contracts from other states. That's why when you get married in California you're considered married in all other states, and doma violates that. The constitutional rights of gays are being denied by certain states, and the supreme court will finally recognize that later this year. The same arguments being used to continue to discriminate against gays were used to justify making interracial marriage illegal, and that got overturned as well.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
"states are required to recognize the validity of marriage contracts" but that is not because of the Equal Protection clause. The equal protection clause did not come about until the 14th amendment. What you are trying to refer to is the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution. That clause required states to honor court judgments from other states. It was further applied to contracts issued in one state to another provided that the other state had similar contractual issuance there as well. So a marriage certificate in one state is recognized provided it is similar to the certificate in another jurisdiction. Same applies to driver's license. But what about Conceal Carry license? A Texas license is not recognized in all other jurisdictions. Same goes with Engineering license or medical License. Furthermore the Courts have never been required by the full faith and credit clause to recognize any marriage they didn't want to. The case regarding interracial marriage did not involve the Full Faith and Credit Clause. You are referring to the 1967 case from Virginia which an interracial couple was prosecuted for going to DC and getting married. It had nothing to do with Virginia recognizing the validity of the DC marriage license. It was about Virginia for prosecuting them for going somewhere else and getting married. So in a gay couple in Texas went to Hawaii to get married they can. The can come back here and not face prosecution for it. But it does not mean that the State is obliged to recognize the legal validity of that marriage.
Erika Holzinger via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Not going to pass
Peter Notarianni via Texas Tribune on Facebook
and gays want to be in the boy scouts ! get real
Steve Cook via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Whats funny is if someone wants to be gay it has NO effect on anyone here. You believe they can pay taxes that pay for many of your family members entitlements as well as DIE for the rights which you hold dear. But you refuse them Legal rights of a couple.When you get Judged what will God judge you on? The fact that you allowed 2 consenting adults are able to have legal benefits. Or the fact that you use a fellow human and deprive them if the same rights you have? People are not born Haters they are taught as they are raised... Many of you "Christians" should look more into the values you clame you hold dear because THIS is biggotry at its best..
Pickles Sorrell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Not going to pass. Legislature is in for short period. Debate things that matter. Besides the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately decide this, not our Lege.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Steve Cook, you invoke how God will judge using your own desires. But how about using the standard which God established on the issue. IF you did you would realize that God Abhors homosexuality. Thus God would deplore the tacit approval of their life style.
Michelle James
Really Matthew? How do you know what "God" abhors? The bible was written by a bunch of men and if you think it's "God's word" you are sorely mistaken. Has God talked to you and told you personally that he/she hates homosexuality? Because our LGBT brothers and sisters are born that way, just like some are born hetero. So it stands to reason that if God created man in his image and created ALL humans regardless of sexual orientation, and then that applies to all of us - not just a select few tinfoil-wearing evangelicals.