Repealing the Texas double secret illegal anti-gay marriage amendment

Some things you do because they?re the right thing to do.

On the right side of history

Reps. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, and Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, are seeking to reverse the state?s prohibition against gay marriage or same-sex civil unions.

Their proposed constitutional amendments ? HJR 77 and HJR 78 ? would repeal a 2005 amendment passed by Texas voters that bans recognition of same-sex unions.

Coleman cited recent polls that show sentiments have changed for a majority of Texans. ?Two-thirds of Texas? voters now believe the state should allow some form of legal recognition for committed same-gender couples,? he said.

Anchia said he represents many couples and families who are discriminated against by the state?s Defense of Marriage Act.

?It is time we revisit this issue; it is time we treat all Texans with dignity and respect,? Anchia said.

The representatives are taking particular aim at a provision of the act that would deny gay couples any civil or legal benefits reserved to husbands and wives. A statewide poll from last year showed that only 25 percent of Texans believe that same-gender couples should neither be allowed to marry or enter int a civil union.

There?s also SJR 29, filed by Sen. Jose Rodriguez in the Senate on Friday, and SB 480 by Sen. Juan ?Chuy? Hinojosa, which would serve as enabling legislation for these resolutions if their accompanying amendments were adopted. See here for more.

Back to the Trail Blazers story, the poll cited is this UT/Texas Trib poll from October that showed approval of marriage equality with a plurality of 36%, and approval of civil unions at 33%; only 25% disapproved of both. Those are encouraging numbers, but I don?t see that translating into legislative action any time soon, especially since it will take a Constitutional amendment, which requires two-thirds support from the Lege to get passed. Maybe someday, but not when Republican legislators and other assorted officeholders are urging the Boy Scouts to keep banning gays because gayness is icky and immoral. We?re getting to the point where more and more people have realized that supporting equality is the truly moral thing to do, but we?ve still got a long way to go in Texas, and I don?t think we?ll get there ? more specifically, I don?t think two-thirds of the Legislature will get there ? before the Supreme Court does. I applaud Sens. Rodriguez and Hinojosa and Reps. Anchia and Coleman, who has done this every session since 2005, for their action, and I certainly urge everyone to call their Rep and Senator and ask them to support these joint resolutions, I?m just saying it?s too early to get one?s hopes up. Equality Texas has more.

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Source: http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=50745

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