Texas Senators Just Spent Hours Passing A Resolution Reaffirming Their Hatred Of Same-Sex Marriage
Texas Senators, angered they would not be able to usher any of their 20-plus anti-gay bills into law, threw a temper tantrum Wednesday night.
The Texas state legislature meets once every two years for 140 days. When their time is up, it’s up, and so lawmakers scramble at the last minute to try to pass as many bills as they can that they know will become law.Â
This year, fearing a likely Supreme Court ruling in support of same-sex marriage, Texas lawmakers worked extra hard to draft, debate, lobby for, and pass almost two dozen bills aimed at harming the LGBT community. From “religious freedom” bills to adoption curtailment to protecting “ex-gay therapy,” to actually defunding same-sex marriage in the Lone Star State, Texas lawmakers earned their reputation as among America’s most anti-gay elected officials.
But a bill cannot become a law unless both the House and the Senate pass it, so lawmakers have been scrambling to coordinate which bills they could get through their respective houses. In the end, the twenty-plus anti-gay bills died.
But Texas Senators last night chose to ignore the horrific flooding that’s taken at least 20 lives, chose to ignore their state’s dismal record on child homelessness (Texas ranks 39th, with 50 being the worst), chose to ignore its high percentage of children in poverty, chose to ignore its high percentage of child food insecurity.
Instead, led by the Texas Senate GOP caucus, working late into the night the Texas Senate debated and passed a non-binding resolution attacking same-sex marriage. All 20 Republicans, and one Democrat, voted in favor of the SR1028, which passed 21-10. Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick heralded the move.
Senate Passes Anti-Gay Marriage Resolution: http://t.co/90OzG7Lu8r via @TexasTribune #txlege
— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) May 28, 2015
Same-sex marriage of course is prohibited by the Texas state constitution, but next month’s Supreme Court ruling may very well strike that unconstitutional law down.Â
Of course, in his complete and utter ignorance and arrogance, two weeks ago on CNNÂ Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton refused to say if Texas will obey a Supreme Court ruling supporting marriage equality.
“We affirm the preservation of the present definition of marriage as being a legal union of one man and one woman as a husband and wife, and pledge to uphold and defend this principle that is so dearly held by Texans far and wide,” the resolution reads.Â
Text of resolution just passed by Texas Senate affirming present definition of marriage #txlege pic.twitter.com/oJGrPGOb0p
— Aman Batheja (@amanbatheja) May 28, 2015
“Here we are again, discriminating against gay people,” Democratic State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, who has a lesbian daughter, said, according to the Houston Chronicle.
The Texas Senate Republican Caucus couldn’t wait to trumpet their “victory,” and immediately sent out this tweet:
The Texas Senate just adopted a resolution affirming the definition of marriage as between 1 man and 1 woman. #txlege pic.twitter.com/AxkFcwdkCP
— Texas Senate GOP (@TexasSenateGOP) May 28, 2015
But others were appalled, and said so on Twitter:
Tonight the Texas Senate passed a disgraceful resolution full of bigotry. This is not who we are. #SR1028 #txlege http://t.co/81tbrM4vG3
— Battleground Texas (@BGTX) May 28, 2015
Hey Republicans in the Texas Senate: Thanks for taking up the important issues, you fuckin’ dummies. #txlege #sr1028
— D. Flores (@DeniseFlores) May 28, 2015
BREAKING: Toothless anti-#gay marriage resolution passes Texas Senate 21-10. #txlege
— Lone Star Q (@lsqnews) May 28, 2015
Despite #texasflood & deaths, #Texas finds time to pass anti #gay marriage resolution. Their priorities of #hate http://t.co/FW2M3bpwf3
— Hank Kelly (@DiggerDoggg) May 28, 2015
Shameful! Texas Senate resolution defining marriage and restricting it to only a man and a woman.
— CollinCountyDems (@CollinDems) May 28, 2015
Texas senators who voted for this resolution should be ashamed of themselves. SR 1028 is hateful and unnecessary. http://t.co/WpBIxWHGvw
— HRC Austin (@HRCAustin) May 28, 2015
Texas Senate Passes Anti-Gay Marriage Resolution [in a temper tantrum because all their gay hating bills failed] http://t.co/kVuGdTgwFi
— Felipe C (@egoistetx) May 28, 2015
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Related:
Anti-Gay State Rep. Cecil Bell Thinks Texas Sovereignty Is A Thing, Totally Trumps Federal Law
David Pakman: Anti-Gay Activist Admits Her Testimony To Texas Senate Was ‘A Lie’ (Video)
TX Reps To Vote On Bill Shielding Religious Service Providers Who Put Kids Into ‘Ex-Gay’ Therapy
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