Tag Archives: gay marriage

Lawsuit threatened in Hood County over clerk’s refusal to issue marriage license

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I was beginning to think that none of Texas’ 254 County Clerks were going to attempt to martyr themselves in the name of their “religious freedom” to not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. I shouldn’t have worried. Attorneys for … Continue reading →

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Texas throws in the towel with the Fifth Circuit

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Hallelujah. The 5th Circuit should affirm a lower court ruling that overturned Texas’ long-standing ban on same-sex marriage, Scott Keller, the state’s solicitor general, wrote in a letter to the appellate court. That letter was in response to the appellate … Continue reading →

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On to the benefits

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Now that same sex marriage is the law of the land, Texas employers need to make sure that the spousal benefits they offer apply to all spouses. “If an employer provides benefits to anyone who is currently married, they must … Continue reading →

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Ready to engage in the next fight

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

No rest for the righteous. On Monday, national and state gay rights leaders and the plaintiffs who sued for marriage equality convened in front of the Texas Capitol to make a different kind of vow: The fight for lesbian, gay, … Continue reading →

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One more holdout concedes

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Hood County and its outspoken County Clerk bow to the inevitable. A Texas county clerk said on Tuesday her office will issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, reversing a previous decision that was based on religious objections. Some counties in … Continue reading →

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More counties issuing same sex marriage licenses

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Montgomery County: Montgomery County Clerk Mark Turnbull said he turned one same-sex couple away on Friday who requested a marriage license, but wound up issuing the license after regular hours on Saturday. He initially refused because he was waiting for … Continue reading →

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Where same sex marriage is still functionally illegal in Texas

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Smith County: After a historic Supreme Court ruling, making same sex marriage legal in all fifty states, couples across the country flocked to courthouses to be legally married. Despite the ruling, an East Texas County Court will not be issuing … Continue reading →

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Cruz keeps on trolling along

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

For a guy who’s supposed to be so freaking brilliant, Ted Cruz sure says a lot of stupid things. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Saturday said county clerks in Texas should “absolutely” be able to opt out of issuing same-sex … Continue reading →

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Moving on to the benefits issue

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

And as we move on to other fights, the terrain changes. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott opened the door for state agencies to withhold benefits from same-sex couples Friday, hours after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. In a letter … Continue reading →

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And we begin the next fight

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s always going to be something. In a somber and defiant statement, Attorney General Ken Paxton proclaimed his next battlefront would be in defense of religious liberty. “The truth is that the debate over the issue of marriage has increasingly … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS rules for marriage equality

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Boom. Handing gay rights advocates a monumental victory, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled that marriages between couples of the same sex are constitutional, a decision that overrides Texas’ long-standing ban on gay marriage. In a 5-4 ruling, the … Continue reading →

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Remember, don’t rush to get married in Harris County just yet

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Harris County Clerk isn’t ready for you and won’t be for at least a little while. Should the U.S. Supreme court decide to strike down same-sex marriage bans nationwide, a decision that could come as soon as Thursday, county … Continue reading →

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No response necessary

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Unless it’s “We will respect and fully comply with the court’s ruling”. The U.S. Supreme Court could decide as early as this week whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. For supporters of same-sex marriage, it’s an emotional … Continue reading →

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The next steps for equality advocates

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Marriage equality will be a huge step, but there are many more steps to be taken. The newly launched Texas Wins campaign—a multiyear, multimillion-dollar effort—aims to increase the number of LGBT Texans protected by local nondiscrimination ordinances. “We want to … Continue reading →

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It always was about animus towards gays

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

TPM reviews the history of anti-gay marriage laws and constitutional amendments now that they’re on the verge of being thrown out. Opponents of marriage equality have been claiming that these laws were not enacted with any animus intended towards same-sex … Continue reading →

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Pointless pastor protest

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Where to even begin? Some prominent Houston church leaders put their names on a full-page open letter to the U.S. Supreme Court in major U.S. newspapers, promising to defy the court should it decide same-sex marriage is a civil right. … Continue reading →

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Texas Supreme Court rules against AG in Austin gay divorce case

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One small step, even if it was on a technicality. As Texas waits on the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on same-sex marriage, the state’s highest civil court ruled Friday that the Texas attorney general tried too late to stop … Continue reading →

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Lawsuit for same sex benefits for state employees filed

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s all about being proactive. Sensing that state officials will be reluctant to comply with a potential U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage, an LGBT civil rights group filed a federal lawsuit Thursday seeking to force Texas … Continue reading →

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What happens if SCOTUS does not uphold marriage equality?

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Nothing good, that’s for sure. Gay and lesbian couples could face legal chaos if the Supreme Court rules against same-sex marriage in the next few weeks. Same-sex weddings could come to a halt in many states, depending on a confusing … Continue reading →

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No special session on same sex marriage

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry, wingnuts. Gov. Greg Abbott apparently really meant it when he said last week he will not call a special session of the Legislature. In an interview with San Antonio’s WOAI-AM on Monday, Abbott said calls for a session on … Continue reading →

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Don’t expect the Harris County Clerk to be ready for the SCOTUS same sex marriage ruling

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Press follows up on a question that we have examined before. [Harris County Clerk Stan] Stanart isn’t planning on staying open later or doing anything to prepare to handle an influx of same-sex couples should the Supremes decide in … Continue reading →

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Getting ready for the SCOTUS same sex marriage ruling

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Travis County is prepped and raring to go. If the U.S. Supreme Court rules that same-sex couples have the right to marry, Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir plans to be ready. The clerk’s office, which issues and records marriage licenses … Continue reading →

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The new closet

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From this Observer story about how Democrats finally managed to put a stake through Rep. Cecil Bell’s awful anti-same-sex-marriage-license bill, comes word of the legislative preference that dare not speak its name: [Rep. Jason] Villalba’s statements were a clear reminder … Continue reading →

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Dan Patrick’s defeat

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Observer reviews how Dan Patrick’s Senate could ultimately take no firmer a stance against same sex marriage than to pass a resolution disapproving of it. In last night’s “debate” over the resolution, Lucio, a passionate pro-life Catholic, rose to … Continue reading →

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The fallout from the chubfest

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Cleaning up some loose ends…The campus carry bill that was the subject of much chubbing passed on final reading. The battle over “campus carry” is headed back to the Texas Senate after House lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to legislation … Continue reading →

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Bell’s anti-same sex marriage license bill lives again

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

WTF? A Democratic state senator has dredged up anti-gay marriage legislation that advocates thought was dead this session, attaching the language to an uncontroversial county affairs bill under the noses of his fellow Democrats. While gay rights advocates decried the … Continue reading →

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Ireland votes to approve same sex marriage

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

As the old song goes, when Irish eyes are smiling, all the world seems bright and gay. Irish voters have resoundingly backed amending the constitution to legalize gay marriage, leaders on both sides of the Irish referendum declared Saturday after … Continue reading →

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Pointless “pastor protection” bill passes House

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. The House tentatively approved Thursday a bill saying that Texas pastors, churches and religious institutions can’t be sued by private parties or penalized by government for spurning gay weddings. Many clergy, especially Southern Baptist ministers opposed to gay marriage, … Continue reading →

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Pointless “pastor protection” bill comes to the House

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the Observer. Rep. Cecil Bell (R-Magnolia) said Wednesday he doesn’t plan to introduce an anti-gay marriage amendment to the so-called Pastor Protection Act scheduled for a House vote Thursday. However, with 12 days remaining in the session, Bell said … Continue reading →

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Bell’s anti-marriage bill goes down

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox, a celebration of victory: Civil liberties and LGBT rights groups tonight are hailing the failure by the Texas House of Representatives to pass HB 4105, which would bar the state from granting, enforcing or recognizing marriage licenses … Continue reading →

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Here comes that anti-gay marriage bill

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Ready or not. “Texas is pioneering a legislative effort to subvert a potential Supreme Court ruling on marriage and lock in discrimination against gay and transgender people and their families,” Kathy Miller, president of the left-leaning Texas Freedom Network, told … Continue reading →

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Anti-gay marriage bill set for House vote on Tuesday

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here it comes. House Bill 4105 would prohibit state or local tax money from being spent to “issue, enforce or recognize” a same-sex marriage. It also would ban any government employee in Texas from issuing a same-sex marriage license or … Continue reading →

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Texans oppose LGBT discrimination

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From Texas Wins: Nearly two-thirds of likely voters in Texas support protecting gay and transgender Texans from discrimination, according to a new poll released today. The statewide survey also found that a strong majority of voters believe that discrimination against … Continue reading →

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Gay acceptance in Harris County

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Not too shabby. Harris County, once known as reliably conservative, has become increasingly progressive on social issues such as same-sex marriage and the death penalty, according to a new poll by Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research. The shifting … Continue reading →

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