Texas Voters Approve Ban on Gay Marriage

AP ^ | 11/08/05 | David Crary

[AlaninSA]

Texas voters Tuesday overwhelming approved a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, making their state the 19th to take that step. In Maine, however, a proposal to repeal a new gay-rights law was trailing in early returns.

The contest in Texas was decided quickly _ the ban was receiving more than 74 percent of the votes in early returns. Like every other state except Massachusetts, Texas didn't permit same-sex marriages previously, but the constitutional amendment was touted as an extra guard against future court rulings.

The campaign had been enlivened over the past week because of a controversial tactic by the amendment's opponents, who argued in recorded phone calls to voters that the measure is so poorly worded that it could jeopardize traditional man-woman marriages. Amendment supporters denounced the effort as misleading.

[BoBToMatoE]

You wont hear about this tomorrow. I remember the national media saying that this would be a "very close" contest.

[1066AD]

75/25 Dallas county.
Pitiful turnout, 58,000 out of 1.1mill registered. 0.02%

[AlaninSA]

I heard the same things said about it, but I knew it wasn't going to happen. You had people in church - across racial, social and theological lines - hearing from the pulpit that this was important. Even our priest spoke about this at the pre-meeting Mass for my KofC council last week.

This is great news!

[TexasTransplant]

Not News, just affimation

[Diddle E. Squat]

The campaign had been enlivened over the past week because of a controversial tactic by the amendment's opponents, who argued in recorded phone calls to voters that the measure is so poorly worded that it could jeopardize traditional man-woman marriages. Amendment supporters denounced the effort as misleading.

Did the AP ever mention this in a story BEFORE the election was over?

[tickmeister]

I wish people would quit talking about gay marriage. The ban is on same sex marriage, it doesn't matter the sexual orientation of the two people. Thus, these bans do not in fact discriminate against gays at all. Gays have the same marriage rights as everybody else, they can marry one person of the opposite sex.

[AlaninSA]

Locally, yes. Our San Antonio radio stations gave this light coverage - and our newspaper buried the story in the back pages.

[Peanut Gallery]

I quikly read the headline, and didn't initially see the word "ban." I yelled out, "What!?!" Then I reread it... Whew! What a relief.

BTW, tonight I saw more voter turnout than I have EVER seen in all the elections in which I have voted.

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

With a big population in Dallas County you'd have thought the gays would have turned out en mass to pass 'their' amendment....:-)

[txroadkill]

http://204.65.107.70/enr3race1.htm?x=0&y=0&id=461
on-line results

[JFC]

No Contast. People in my STATE are against Gay Marriage.

It is not going to fly in fly over country.

WTG Fellow TEXANS.

[AlaninSA]

Great link! Thanks. I've been looking for information like this.

[Irish Rose]

"...who argued in recorded phone calls to voters that the measure is so poorly worded that it could jeopardize traditional man-woman marriages."

Right. The government would ban marriage between men and women. At least we know that even those who advocate gay marriage aren't deluded enough to think it popular.

The news about the ban is nice to hear, but it doesn't surprise me.

[1066AD]

Woops, 5.02%

[Paloma_55]

Start your timer... how long till the supreme court rules it unconstitutional??

[weegee]

The "miswording" claims were deliberate lying to voters. The call even ended with a suspicious "God Bless You".

[txroadkill]

http://204.65.107.70/enrnovgen05.htm
for all issues

[MrLee]

Maine is completely hopeless.

[COEXERJ145]

The Texas SOS website really sucks tonight. Seems to hardly update at all.