Democrats Introduce Bills To Make Same-Sex Marriage Legal In Texas. Yes, Texas.

Four Texas Democratic lawmakers are filing bills to strike down the Lone Star State’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (photo) clearly loves his daughter very much. In June, for Father’s Day, the Texas Democratic state Senator penned a beautiful and heart-warming open letter to his daughter.

From the moment you breathed life, when you first smiled up at me, I knew how strong the love of a father could be. An unconditional love for such an innocent child that only a father could know. As you began to grow, I hoped for a safe environment for you and wanted to protect you from the harsh realities of this unjust world.

But as you matured into a strong young woman, I began to realize there were cruelties I could not protect you from — simply because of your sexual orientation. I could not protect you from the discrimination, ignorance or hate.

Last year, Senator Hinojosa filed a bill to allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions.

Now, Hinojosa is going even further. He’s filed a bill that would repeal Texas’ constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and make same-sex marriage legal.

Senator Hinojosa’s colleague in the Texas House, Rep. Garnet Coleman, has filed a similar bill.

“Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) filed a companion to Hinojosa’s bill, HJR 34, aimed at repealing the marriage amendment, which was approved by 76 percent of voters in 2005,” , the Texas Observer reports. “To pass, the amendment repeal bills would need a two-thirds majority in both chambers, as well as a simple majority at the ballot box.”

Meanwhile, state Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas) and Sen. Jose Rodriguez (D-El Paso) were set to file legislation Monday that would undo Texas’ statutory bans on same-sex marriage, which passed in 2003. Anchia’s bill is HB 130, and Rodriguez’s measure was piggy-backed on Hinojosa’s SB 98. The statutory changes would have no impact until the constitutional amendment is repealed.

Rep. Coleman, who’s filed bills to repeal Texas’ marriage amendment in every session since 2007, said Friday he’s optimistic that the high court will settle the issue once and for all.

“I have been fighting to repeal this ban ever since it passed in 2005, and it remains one of my highest priorities,” Coleman wrote. “The persistent advocacy from the LGBT community and allies have turned the tide in public opinion, and in this way we have already won: most Americans now support marriage equality (a huge turnaround in just a short period of time), and for the first time ever a recent poll found that more Texans support marriage equality than those who do not. Even the majority of young Republicans support marriage equality. When the Supreme Court has its say on this issue, it will do so in an environment that already supports marriage equality.”

Will they have any chance of passing?

No.

Nor would Texas Governor Rick Perry, or, his successor, Governor-elect Greg Abbott, ever sign them.

But it’s a start.

 

Hat tip: Off the Kuff
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