Texas Democrats stall anti-same sex marriage bill
The bill allowing Texas to ignore the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage has failed to progress.
Republicans sponsored a bill that would prevent any state funds being used “for an activity that includes the licensing or support of a same-sex marriage” as well as stating: “A state or local governmental employee may not recognize, grant, or enforce a same-sex marriage license.”
This would have meant they could ignore the Supreme Court if it rules in favour of same-sex marriage. The decision is due in June.
Representative Cecil Bell, who proposed the bill, told TPM the bill was intended to protect Texas’ “sovereignty”.
He said: “We as Texans have a sovereign right to define and regulate marriage.
“I don’t believe that this bill puts anyone in a lesser position than what they were in before. What this does is codify Texas law.”
But the largely majority Republican house was stalled in passing the bill by a small number of Democrat politicians. They filed a “no-hope” bill to raise the state minimum wage to $10.10 and debated that, and other unconnected issues, until the time limit for the anti-gay bill had passed.
Democrat Celia Israel, one of the two gay members of the house, said : “We’re sending a message to Texas that this is worth fighting for. We’re not in the majority.
“We don’t control the ship. But we can help to steer it in the right direction.”
Politicians in Texas propsed more anti-LGBT laws than any other state last year.
