Breaking: Texas Attorney General Says Same-Sex Couple’s Marriage ‘Is Void’
The Attorney General of Texas is insisting a same-sex couple married today is not.Â
Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton acted quickly this morning, after a county judge ordered a county clerk to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple, after another county judge struck down the state marriage ban. The couple were married immediately. Paxton went straight to the State Supreme Court to ask for a stay of any future same-sex marriages, which he received.Â
But Paxton went one step further.
He has taken the unusual position to “rule” himself on the validity of the marriage license, and thus, the marriage, of Suzanne Bryant and Sarah Goodfriend, who are the first and only same-sex couple to ever marry in the Lone Star State.
“The same-sex marriage license issued by the Travis County Clerk is void, just as any license issued in violation of state law would be,” Paxton said today in a statement. “I will continue to defend the will of the people of Texas, who have defined marriage as between one man and one woman, against any judicial activism or overreach.”
UPDATE:Â Texas AG: I Am ‘Seeking To Void’ Marriage Of Same-Sex Couple Despite One Spouse’s Cancer
The KVUE news report above was published before Paxton’s statement, though it may be for a court to decide.
Responses on Twitter were less than supportive of the Attorney General:
Ken Paxton would have defended bans on interracial marriage, as well as slavery. Law of the land, y’all.
— Mike Arbor Daymus (@mdahmus) February 19, 2015
Initiate a civil rights investigation against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for civil rights violations. http://t.co/P6pyC36ekF
— Texhomo (@texhomo) February 19, 2015
Is there an actual lawyer (i.e., not Ken Paxton) who can opine on whether these two nice women are married at this moment in time please?
— Harold Cook (@HCookAustin) February 19, 2015
.@KenPaxtonTX I looked on your website but couldn’t find “Literally Undoing a Marriage” on your Issues page, pls help http://t.co/6dwYMQ6UDt
— CHARLES VESTAL (@charlesv) February 19, 2015
AG Ken Paxton’s statement on the marriage this morning—he’s out to kill the license. #txlege pic.twitter.com/2E3MaOzDs2
— Christopher Hooks (@cd_hooks) February 19, 2015
Ken Paxton on same sex marriage: “I will continue to defend the will of the people of Texas.” Intolerance is the will of Texans? Nope.
— Edmond Ortiz (@satscribe) February 19, 2015
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Image:Â Nicole Chavez/Twitter

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