Texas Politics & Discrimination

Here's some bad news for our family.  Sometimes I read about Texas with a feeling of disconnect, as though we don't actually live here.  Take a look at this press release.

Anti-Gay Texas Marriage Amendment Passes Senate
Hurtful Legislation Will Weaken Legal Agreements in Texas
May 21, 2005 Contact: Heath Riddles
For Immediate Release 512.474.5475

AUSTIN, TX- A historically dangerous and discriminatory
constitutional amendment is headed to Texas voters. The Anti-Gay
Texas Marriage Amendment (HJR 6) passed the Texas Senate this
afernoon. The amendment was approved by a vote of 21 to 8, narrowly
meeting the two-thirds majority required.

Upon approval by the Senate, the amendment is now cleared to appear
on a statewide ballot this November. This will mark the first time in
history that a minority group would be singled out in the Texas
Constitution to be denied equal treatment. Constitutions are
historically treated as sacred documents, designed to preserve rights
and ensure equality for all.

Randall Ellis, Executive Director of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of
Texas, says the amendment is dangerous. "This amendment is
devastating to thousands of Texas families, gay and straight alike,"
Ellis said. "Domestic partner benefits, powers of attorney, and even
common law marriage will be called into question by this amendment.
These are consequences that are supposedly unintended, according to
the amendment's authors. But this is clearly a discriminatory act,
designed to strike at our community at its fundamental level: our
families. The Legislature is obviously willing to sacrifice all Texas
families for this unjust agenda of intolerance and discrimination."

Marriage affords hundreds of legal rights, responsibilities and
obligations, including the ability to visit a spouse in the hospital,
social security benefits, second parent adoptions and many more.
These are denied to thousands of loving, committed gay and lesbian
couples across Texas, many of them raising families of their own.

This amendment would, in effect, solidify LGBT Texans' status as
second-class citizens.

Senators Barrientos, Ellis, Hinojosa, Shapleigh, Van de Putte, West,
Whitmire and Zaffirini voted against the Anti-Gay Texas Marriage
Amendment.

Comments

[neil]

time to move to canada or "old europe"...i despair for this country...

[lisa]

Don't feel too bad. Here in CT we made groundbreaking news of our recent passing of the Civl Unions bill. Attached to that bill however is a DOMA - which means pretty much the same thing you got going down there.

[Esther]

As a catholic, I do not believe in gay marriages. However I feel that is a church desicion and not a state decision. I do believe in your family. I am glad that you have a loving family to raise children in. As a Texas voter, I will stand behind your rights as a descent human being. Good luck!

[WannaBeMom]

Even in our blue state of Michigan they passed Prop 2, banning even a civil union.

This was a timely post, again. This weekend as Partner and I were revelling in the New Orleans heat, and talking about how miserable it is in Michigan, we also waxed about what southern cities we could live in. I immediately put out Austin as a choice, but Partner said she was scared of Texas.... hm...?

[Mieke]

I am sorry.

[Lisa C.]

I posted about this on my own site, too. I will vote against it, but what good will it really do? We all know this is going to pass. It is just so wrong. I'm really sorry.

[Robyn]

i have to admit that i didn't really get all focused on this. i KNEW that no matter how much i did...it would make it onto the ballot this fall. of course i will do my best this summer and fall to make people i know understand why this is stupid...this legislated discrimination...but i hate to say it...i don't think i can make a difference in this big state full of stupid people.

[kat]

You could move to England... a la Elton John. This kind of news just saddens me. Here in San Francisco, we have been through ups and downs involving this subject.

I hope for the best and if not for my friends and those around me, then for the future for those like my son and for those like Pearl.

[Dawn]

Had Amendment 416 voted into law in Nebraska a few years ago. It was DOMA Plus. The judges just ruled it unconstitutional. My partner and I had already moved over to Iowa in hopes of us co-parent adopting each others children. Still in the works, you do whatever you can to survive and know in the end the fight is worth fighting for your children.

Take Care
Dawn

[suzoz]

Well, I hope that press release is not entirely accurate and that non-marriage rights, such as power of attorney etc will not be affected by an anti-marriage amendment. We have the same type of constitutional amendment in law in Australia (the conservatives learn tactics from each other), but it does not really affect our daily lives in a big cosmopolitan city, other than making it impossible for us to get legally married, which we don't want to do anyway. But I suppose it all depends on state politics there as to which way the wind will blow in the years to come...

[Holly]

I have the same press release on my site. Been focusing more of our energy on the foster ban, but now I feel sick and guilty that I didn't do more to fight against this.

Carol, my partner, says we can't afford to move, so I guess I will be hitting the pavement to fight against this.

[ange]

I come from a religious family, and all of my life, my views swayed back and forth. But my narrow-mindedness disappeared when my best friend came out and announced she wanted to get married. Seeing people happy,in love with each other, and raising their children in that love, should be enough to sway legislation. I may be straight, but here I sit raising two children completely alone,and I could only dream of having a family as happy, functional, and complete as yours. You should not have to move. You should be entitled to the same rights as everyone else. I pray and dream that this will change. But it will take all of us everywhere, to change it.

[Molly]

This legislation is popping up all over the country. It's sad and frightening. Makes me want to give the HRC my entire paycheck. I'm afraid to ask what's next...

[Suzanne]

I'm sorry you have to deal with such codified bigotry in your own state. It's scary.

[Kay]

I'm sorry. The world is just a scary place at the moment. And Texas more than some places, although as people have pointed out Texas (and the US) aren't the only ones. I hope it doesn't pass, but I guess that seems unlikely.

What is happening to the world? What is wrong with us?