Posted on 05/01/2003 6:59:24 AM PDT by Buffalo Bob
AUSTIN -- A Senate bill prohibiting the recognition of same-sex unions won approval by the House on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 7, the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, now heads to Gov. Rick Perry, who is expected to sign it into law.
The final vote in the House was 118-9.
Texas law currently states that marriage can be only between a man and a woman.
"This bill does discriminate against any other kind of marriage," said Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, sponsor of the bill in the House.
"This is a great day for Texas families," said Norm Mason, chairman of the Texas Christian Coalition. "Texas will not have to recognize another state's false interpretation of the sacred institution of marriage."
Social conservatives have tried for several years to enact this type of ban, but the Democratic leadership in the House had prevented it from coming to the floor for a vote. This year the Republican House majority gave the measure priority status.
"From the onset, DOMA has been on a fast track, thanks to the maneuvering of ultraconservative legislators," said Randall Ellis, executive director of the Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of Texas.
Ellis noted that the bill was tentatively passed about midnight Tuesday, the same day the House tentatively approved a bill adding a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions.
"It is typical of this session that the House would spend a day attacking the rights of women, then end with a slap in the face to the (gay and lesbian) community," Ellis said. "The priorities of our state's leadership are painfully obvious."
Vermont is the only state to recognize civil unions of same-sex couples. Texas would be the 37th state to refuse to recognize such unions since Congress in 1996 gave states authority to refuse to "give full faith and credit" to homosexual unions.
Rep. Toby Goodman, R-Arlington, initially added an amendment that would have allowed Texas to recognize child support and custody orders from other states involving same-sex couples. But he withdrew the amendment at Chisum's request before final passage.
Goodman said states are required to recognize court orders from other states and that the amendment would have protected the Defense of Marriage Act from a constitutional challenge. But he said the issue was "too political."
The bill would allow gays and lesbians to arrange rights relating to hospital visitation, property and life insurance by designating guardians, appointing agents and using private contracts.
Nearly 800 people registered support of the bill, compared to about 220 who signed witness affirmations opposing it.
Yes, I can't tell you how many divorces this will stop; how many kids will now have both Mom and Dad staying together. Wait a minute .... divorces will still happen. So, how does this impact Texas families at all? My relationship with my wife is still the same, without regard to this law, it is more influenced by where we go out to eat; than by anything the beaurocrats do.
I'm not so sure this is accurate...
California, so I have read, gives spousal benefits to "partners" in homosexual marraiges/relationships. Then again, I guess they could do this without actually officially recognizing the "union"....???
Also, didn't the issue of recognition of homsexual "marraige" come up in Hawaii - I thought it passed??? Am I wrong?
And it's good to see for once. Maybe I should move to Texas. Guess that means the steers and queers will be in NM?
The "impact" depends on whether the "Texas family" resembles Larry Flynt's, or Rosie O'Donnels's, OR merely that of one of those typical backwards Southern Baptists (through a vote of 118-9) who voted to nix this "enlightened" measure.
BTW, I hear Amsterdam is lovely at this time of year -- I take it even you wouldn't give your kids the Red Light District tour.
The libertarians already are, they just don't know it. ;^)
Freedom must be terribly frightening to many.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.