Texas GOP Balks At Gay Marriage Amendment

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/04/040605txBan.htm

A Proposed amendment to the Texas constitution to ban same-sex marriage has been stripped of a clause that would also bar civil unions and same-sex benefits.

The amendment, as originally worded, would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, but it was expanded to block civil unions as well. It also would bar any legal situations "similar to marriage" which could void or prevent child custody contracts, living wills, rights of attorney, and other contracts gay and lesbian couples use to protect their rights.

"It just goes too far," said Rep. David Swinford (R-Dumas) head of the House State Affairs Committee said.



isn't that nice--throwing us some crumbs

[iamjoy]

1. Ulterior Motive, Perhaps

They know that many moderates (although in Texas that term is relative) who believe marriage should be between a man and a woman would balk at a ban on civil unions and partner benefits. They also know it would make it harder to attract businesses as some like to offer partner benefits.

So, they make the amendment ban gay marriage but say nothing about civil unions - such an amendment is far more likely to pass.

I assume you were being sarcastic about the crumbs, anyway.

[readmoreoften]

delete dupe

delete dupe

[readmoreoften]

2. More practically speaking...

Texas is just so GAY that it would be hard to get a majority of even republicans to vote on something that would be perceived of as 'mean-spirited' towards the gay community. I think the * Administration has to do a lot to hide the reality that people's attitude towards queers in Texas is much more complicated than many might think.

The other day they took affidavits as to whether or not a ban on gay marriage should come to a vote. My (straight) friend was still standing in line to testify against the ban at 10pm. He said that there were so many Texans gathered to oppose the ban that State officials actually made an announcement "Is there anyone here who is FOR a ban on gay marriage" and out of the 200+ remaining people (at 10pm mind you...) only 3 people came forward. I heard that the ratio was similar during the daytime testimonies.

Beers, steers, and queers. There are A LOT of GLBT folks deep in the heart of Texas. And there are a lot of conservative folks who-- although they want to pay lip service to 'traditional values' because there is cultural pressure on them from their peers-- these people don't want to harm their kids (or nieces, nephews, etc.)

That's my two cents.

[sui generis]

3. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I want them to come live in sui turnabout world for a week, where heterosexuals aren't allowed to marry or have civil unions or any legal situation similar to marriage. Where heterosexuals are considered innately immoral, a threat to western civilization, child molesters, box turtle fuckers, and not subject to sexual orientation anti discrimination protections, and where they can be fired just for being presumed straight.

I want them to live in a world where righteous gay people make decisions about what heterosexuals can and can't do with their bodies, homes, estates, and children, and where ugly humans can claim they went into "straight panic" and killed their supposedly gay friend who just came out of the closet as straight.

OH BUT WAIT. That's the point. Those people are incapable of ever putting themselves in anyone else's shoes; completely genetically incapable of empathy or consequence.

So this guy just tried to make it illegal and unenforceable for me to give ANYTHING to my SO in my will. He tried to make it enforceable for the state to kick him out of our house and keep everything in it if I get run over by a semi. He tried to make sure that no matter what my wishes were, my SO would not be allowed to visit me in the hospital. He would invalidate our joint checking accounts, mortgages and life insurance bequests. I'm sorry mods, but that puts me in a VERY DANGEROUS mood. I am just sick to death of living in the 21st century and having my life dominated by these sick twisted hateful medieval fucks, and it is my most fervent belief that the world would be better off without them in it at all. I genuinely, profoundly hate them.

:nuke:
:rant: