NOMblog: The Official Blog of the National Organization for Marriage

NOM BLOG

Category Archives: Texas

What Can One Person Do?

October 17, 2013 – 11:43 am

One of the questions NOM always gets is, “What can one person do to make a difference?” Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert got the same question at last weekend’s Values Voter Summit hosted by the Family Research Council. Watch and listen to his simple 90-second response:

By Christopher Plante | Posted in Culture, Debating Marriage, Same Sex Marriage, Texas | Comments Off

"Following State Law"

September 18, 2013 – 11:09 am

When officers and enlisted swear their oath in joining the Army or Air National Guard, they vow to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States and of the State/Commonwealth/District/Territory" where they are serving.

Today, Talking Points Memo reports on three State National Guards that are doing just that by refusing to break the laws of their States in order to provide same-sex 'marriage' benefits:

The Obama administration determined this month that married same-sex couples are entitled to spousal military benefits, but three GOP-controlled states - Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi - have refused to grant them to members of their National Guards. Now advocates are urging the federal government to push back. [...]

A Mississippi National Guard spokesman told the news outlet that the unit was "following state law," which, like laws in 30-plus other states, bans same-sex marriage.

You can read more here from the Associated Press.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Law, Louisiana, Military, Mississippi, Same Sex Marriage, Texas | Comments Off

"Family Friendly" Apparently Offends Some

September 18, 2013 – 10:12 am

Many in the gay marriage movement claim that they have no desire to force their lifestyle on anyone else, they only want the freedom to love and marry whomever they wish. But sometimes this carefully-crafted claim is undermined by the real-world actions of the homosexual community itself.

An example of this was seen last week, as controversy erupted in the media about the Dallas Pride Parade. MyFoxDetroit reported that organizers had stated ahead of this year's event- which took place on Sunday- that "rules related to nudity and sexual behavior would be enforced more strictly than in past years. Police said anyone violating indecency laws in front of children could be charged with a felony."

But many in the gay community were unhappy about the stricter enforcement of the rules, not only in Dallas but across the country:

The warnings outraged some local activists, whose reactions swiftly echoed through gay-oriented social media nationwide.

"To make the parade more 'family friendly' and to accommodate comfort for the increasing number of attending heterosexuals and corporate sponsorship, participants are being asked to cover up!" activist Daniel Scott Cates wrote on his Facebook page. "The 'queer' is effectively being erased from our pride celebration."

Another activist, Hardy Haderman, wrote an aggrieved column for the Dallas Voice, a weekly serving the gay community.

"The assimilationists insist we tone down and throw away all our joyous sexiness," he wrote. "Why? To do that turns the Pride Parade into a We-Are-Ashamed parade, and I refuse to be part of that."

The rules are hardly extreme, however: the article explains that they "were drafted to conform with the city's public nudity ordinance and the state's anti-obscenity law, which bars the parade from featuring sexual paraphernalia and 'real or simulated sex acts.'"

This leaves us wondering how public displays of nudity in front of children and sexual acts on public streets doesn’t equate to forcing others to be exposed to elements of a lifestyle that is understandably objectionable to many.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Culture, Media, Offbeat, Texas | Comments Off

Texas National Guard Will Not Recognize Same-Sex 'Marriages' for Military Benefits

September 4, 2013 – 3:10 pm

One of the obvious results of the US Supreme Court’s DOMA ruling this summer is confusion. Confusion with the tax code, confusion with how states, who have the sovereign right to define marriage for themselves, balance their positions on marriage with the new federal definition of marriage. Texas, as well as Mississippi, is at the forefront of these questions.

CNN reports:

"As a state agency, Texas Military Forces must adhere with Texas law, and the Texas Constitution, which clearly defines marriage as between one man and one woman," said Josh Havens, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry's office.

Texas, like some other states, expressly prohibits same-sex marriage under its law. That state law trumps federal law, argues Perry and others.

"(Texas Military Forces) is a state agency under the authority and direction of the Texas state government," wrote the forces' adjutant general, Maj. Gen. John Nichols, in a memo dated August 30. "... Due to the potential conflict (between state and federal law), we are unable to enroll same-sex families ... at our state-supported facilities until we receive legal clarification."

In a statement Tuesday, the Texas Military Forces insisted that while Nichols is asking the state's attorney general for an advisory opinion, "the state is not denying any federal benefits to military personnel or same-sex spouses of military personnel."

"This is a processing issue, not a denial of benefits issue," the agency says. "As such, we fully encourage eligible members to enroll for their federal benefits at one of the 20 nearest federal installations, which are dispersed throughout the state of Texas."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Military, Same Sex Marriage, Texas | Comments Off

Some things You Just Don't Want to Miss

August 30, 2013 – 4:15 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

It has been an incredible week for marriage and I want to make sure you've heard all the news.

This week was the launch of our $1 million dollar match campaign. A faithful and generous donor, who believes we can win the marriage battle, has stepped up and promised to match every dollar we raise between now and the end of the year. Up to $1 million dollars!

If you haven't taken the opportunity to have your donation doubled by this incredible donor, please do so right now. Help us defend marriage in the legislatures of Hawaii, Illinois, and New Jersey. Help us prepare for ballot fights in at least three and maybe eight states. Help us defend your religious liberties from coast to coast. Your sacrificial donation today will be doubled dollar for dollar.

After you've made your contribution there is still plenty of work to be done. NOM has several action items that you can take to protect marriage, defend our religious liberties, and urge a return to the rule of law in our land:

First is calling and sending an email to Chairman Camp of the Ways and Means Committee. In investigating the IRS scandal and the felony committed against NOM, the Ways and Means Committee has not conducted an in-depth investigation or questioned under oath anyone from the Human Rights Campaign, nor gotten full answers from anyone at the IRS including the former Acting Director. Please use this link to get Chairman Camp's phone number; then, after you’ve called his office, send him an email demanding he use the subpoena power of his committee to get to the bottom of the scandal.

Next, is the state of Hawaii. In Hawaii, the Governor has presented the legislature with a draft bill to legalize same-sex 'marriage' and he may call a special session of the legislature to force this through. If you're in Hawaii, or know family and friends there, please take action to send the State Representatives and Senators an urgent message urging them to reject the redefinition of marriage.

Moving east from Hawaii, the California Legislature is at it again, this time considering legislation that would strip groups of their tax exemption if their beliefs and practices don't affirm concepts like "gender identity" and gay "marriage" and other ideas that fly in the face of the teachings of virtually every faith tradition. SB 323 was originally aimed at the Boy Scouts, falsely claiming that they engaged in discriminatory practices by supposedly not accepting homosexual members. But the fact is that the bill would punish any type of group with traditional values, and allow only liberal groups that affirm the homosexual agenda to enjoy a tax exemption. If you are in California or have friends and family there, please use this link to send a message to the CA Assembly asking them to reject this discriminatory law.

Continuing our journey east, New Mexico and Texas continue to be in the news. In New Mexico, county clerks across the state are deciding for themselves to issue same-sex 'marriage' licenses, against the June written opinion of the Attorney General. Thousands of you have already sent emails to Governor Martinez asking her to intervene to restore the rule of law and defend marriage as one man and one woman. If you haven't yet, use this link to send her a message then forward it to any friends and family you have in New Mexico.

Finally in Texas of all places, religious liberties and the freedom to speak and live our faith in the public square is under attack by a proposed San Antonio city ordinance that would bar anyone who has ever allegedly "discriminated" in word or deed from working from the city. This includes organizations that have contracts with the city to provide essential services. Churches and other faith groups are understandably up in arms, knowing that this ordinance would impact them and anyone who has ever voiced support for traditional marriage. Homosexual activists consider the mere act of supporting marriage as the union of one man and one woman to be discrimination per se. The City Council vote is September 5th. Faith groups have begun having rallies and will continue to work to stop this unconstitutional proposal. Please take the time to make your voice heard by sending Governor Perry and the Attorney General of Texas a message urging them to do what they can to stop this proposal.

And don't forget the $1 million match. Please make sure you donate today to have your generous gift doubled in the fight to defend true marriage and our first amendment right of freedom of religion.

Faithfully,

Brian S. Brown

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, California, Featured, Hawaii, New Mexico, Same Sex Marriage, Texas | Comments Off

Christians Need Not Apply

August 16, 2013 – 2:26 pm

Joseph Backholm, executive director of the Family Policy Institute of Washington, writes on the growing bias against people of faith in the public square:

If you don’t actually remember it, you’re certainly aware of the Cold War the United States was involved in with the USSR for forty-four years. We were fighting, but everyone was being passive aggressive about it.

Something similar has been happening culturally in the war on religious freedom. For years the war has been undeclared and the damage to religious freedom has generally been classified as friendly fire. “I wasn’t shooting at you, I was trying to shoot hate and intolerance; so sorry about that.”

The victims have been numerous. ...around the country bakeries, doctors, counselors, court clerks, and wedding photographers have been victims of the war on intolerance; specifically because of their beliefs about sexuality and marriage.

All along the way, those tightening the noose around the neck of religious freedom have claimed to be allies all along.

That’s changing. Now that they feel they have the upper hand, they no longer feel the need to be tolerant.

The City of San Antonio is making a move that would allow the city council to exclude from public office anyone who has “bias” that they don’t like. Here is the resolution:

“No person shall be appointed to a position if the city council finds that such person has, prior to such proposed appointment, engaged in discrimination or demonstrated a bias, by word or deed, against any person, group or organization on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, age, or disability.”

That’s right, folks. If you are a person who has “demonstrated a bias, by word or deed” against people based on things such as religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, you are unfit for public office.

Finish reading this article by FPIW director here.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Corporate Ethics, Ethics, Politics, Religious Liberty, Texas | Comments Off

Don't Mess with Texas (Marriage Law)!

July 31, 2013 – 5:25 pm

Dear Marriage Supporter,

Unprecedented, chilling, unconstitutional, and simply wrong.

Those were some of the words used to describe a San Antonio City Council ordinance that would ban from city government anyone who ever uttered a discriminatory word against same-sex marriage. Truth is stranger, and in this case more horrifying, than fiction.

For years we at NOM have been pointing out that one of the biggest threats when marriage is redefined is to our cherished freedom of speech and religious liberties. Now, in San Antonio the City Council is proving our point.

San Antonio is considering a proposal that will add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the discrimination ordinances in the city code. People who have been determined to ever have "discriminated" could be barred from employment and subject to other sanctions. This proposed ordinance covers individuals, businesses, religious organizations and places of public accommodation. It provides no exemptions for religious beliefs relating to homosexuality or same-sex marriage. As it stands, the proposed ordinance violates the First Amendment rights to freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom of association. Additionally, it violates the rights granted by the Texas Religious Freedom Act and the Texas Constitution.

But believe it or not, sponsors of this ordinance call these measures, "a bare minimum," hinting at broader restrictions to follow.

But it goes even further, the measure is retroactive. If someone has "ever" spoken out in public against same-sex marriage or homosexuality they are subject to the sanctions of this ordinance. Talk about chilling! The mere opposition to redefining marriage or sharing what a person's faith says about homosexuality could be discrimination under the ordinance.

We need you to act today to stop this madness. Please click here to take the time to email Governor Perry and your State Legislators urging them to intervene and protect the rights of Texans to speak freely in public, hold religious beliefs, and live their lives and run their businesses according to their consciences.

You still have the right to speak your mind in Texas, and you can make a difference. Please take action today! And after you've emailed the Governor and your Legislators, please use the buttons below to forward and share this email with as many of your friends and family as possible.

The people of the Great State of Texas who believe in marriage as God designed it can stop this madness.

By Brian Brown | Posted in Alerts, Same Sex Marriage, Texas | Comments Off

Texas AG: Same-Sex Partner Benefits Violate State Constitution

April 30, 2013 – 1:00 pm

From a CBS affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth comes this story:

Local governments and school districts that offer marriage benefits to same-sex partners are violating the state constitution, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott stated in an opinion Monday.

[...] In a six-page opinion, Abbott found that the constitution “prohibits political subdivisions from creating a legal status of domestic partnership and recognizing that status by offering public benefits based upon it.” He said city governments and school districts constitute political subdivisions.

Abbot weighed in on the matter at the request of state Senator Dan Patrick of Houston, who "argued that Texas amended its constitution in 2005 to define marriage as between one man and one woman, while prohibiting government entities from recognizing anything similar to marriage."

Patrick is concerned that Texas law states "cities, counties and school districts cannot subvert the will of Texans" but that this is precisely what is happening in those municipalities and school districts which offer same-sex partner benefits.

You can read the full story here.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Same Sex Marriage, Texas | Comments (46)

NOM's Thomas Peters Quoted in Texan Student Newspaper

November 1, 2012 – 9:00 am

Gary Cecil III includes a few quotes by NOM's Thomas Peters in The Signal (the student newspaper of the University of Houston-Clear Lake):

"...Thirty-two states when given the chance have voted to protect marriage,” said Thomas Peters, cultural director of NOM. “Gay marriage has primarily been pushed with this claim that it is ‘inevitable,’ even though it goes down in defeat time and time again.”

NOM’s pledge also supports appointing federal judges who do not support same-sex marriage and putting the decision to repeal gay marriage in states that have permitted it to a popular vote.

“It’s important to prevent gay marriage because gay unions are not marriages,” Peters said. “The public purpose of marriage is and has always been to unite men and women together, and to unite them to whatever children they may have . . . any child introduced into a same-sex unit is deprived of either his or her mother or father.”"

"...Peters argues gay marriage is really not about benefits anymore and points out even in states that have granted same-sex couples all the legal rights of marriage through civil unions, activists are still attempting to redefine marriage.

“Gay unions are not marriages and however long this fiction may be perpetuated in law, the more harm to society and the next generation will result,” Peters said. “If we erase the idea and if the law treats the idea as akin to bigotry that moms and dads each matter and each contribute something unique to the well-being of children, we have lost a core human truth and society and culture will suffer as a result. Gay people have the right to live as they choose, but they do not have the right to redefine marriage for the rest of us."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Marriage, Same Sex Marriage, Texas, Youth | Comments (1)

This Is About Our Children...

October 27, 2012 – 11:10 am

Dear Marriage Supporter,

With the birth of my 8th child imminent, I am reflecting a lot these days on the hopes and dreams I have for my children.

I hope they are happy and healthy, of course. And I also hope that they grow up to become men and women of strong faith, high ideals and sound principles.

I'm sure Holly Pope has similar hopes and dreams for her son, Dakota. I know she puts a lot of time and effort into teaching her son to be strong and stand up for his faith and his principles.

So you can imagine the empathy I have for Holly when I watch her and her son tell their story: as a high school freshman, Dakota was suspended from school for answering a friend's question about Christianity's teaching on homosexuality!

Click here to watch Dakota's story.

Marriage Supporter, this is the reality we are facing in the fight to defend marriage. Students are getting suspended for standing up for traditional marriage. Bullied. People are getting fired and put on leave from their jobs. Business owners are getting sued. Professional licenses are being revoked. Christian service agencies are being forcibly shut down.

This is not a live-and-let-live proposition. No, this is an all-out assault on our sacred religious and constitutional values . . . and we can't afford to lose!

Please, click here to watch our latest video chronicling the victims of the intolerance of those pushing a same-sex marriage agenda.

And if you can, please make a confidential donation to support our efforts to educate the citizens of our great nation about the consequences of legalizing same-sex marriage. We have a small window to make a dramatic impact for marriage, and thanks to a generous matching grant, every dollar raised between now and Election Day will be tripled! Please make a generous gift today!

By Brian Brown | Posted in MarriageADA, Same Sex Marriage, Texas | Comments (6)

Video: Rick Perry Explains Why He Stands Strong for Marriage

July 10, 2012 – 12:00 pm

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is asked about marriage and why he hasn't changed his views on it:

By NOM Staff | Posted in Culture, Free Speech, Marriage, Same Sex Marriage, Texas | Comments (42)

ADF Video: Hundreds Of Christians Face Jail Time In El Paso

April 1, 2012 – 9:00 am

As this Alliance Defense Fund video explains, "Hundreds of Christians and other El Paso citizens are facing jail time for exercising their constitutionally protected right to speak out against Mayor John Cook's policies":

By NOM Staff | Posted in Law, Religious Liberty, Texas | Comments (5)

Hundreds of El Paso Christians Face Jail Time for Opposing Pro-Gay Legislation

March 13, 2012 – 1:00 pm

CitizenLink:

Approximately 250 Christians affiliated with various ministries in El Paso, Texas, have asked the state Supreme Court to step in immediately to prevent them from being sent to jail.

Their crime? Circulating petitions seeking the recall of Mayor John Cook and two city council members in 2010.

That year, El Paso residents passed a ballot initiative banning unmarried domestic-partner benefits. But the city council — with the mayor’s approval — voted to rescind the ordinance, prompting the recall election.

But last month, a state appeals court halted the recall and decertified the petition signatures. Immediately afterward, the city’s district attorney subpoenaed the petitions and assembled a grand jury to look into having the petition organizers prosecuted criminally. According to Texas election law, churches can’t circulate petitions; the constitutionality of that law is currently the subject of a separate federal lawsuit.

“We have more than 250 signed affidavits from local citizens there in El Paso who are terrified that they may go to jail simply for engaging in legitimate political and free speech efforts,” said Alliance Defense Fund attorney Joel Oster. “This is the United States of America, and the mayor can’t be allowed to put his opponents in jail just because he doesn’t like that they participated in a valid effort that he doesn’t favor.”

Bob Unruh has more background on this story.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Law, Religious Liberty, Texas | Comments (17)

Video: Gay Judge Admits to Refusing to Perform Marriages for Straight Couples

February 24, 2012 – 4:00 pm

New York Daily News:

An openly gay Texas judge says she refuses to conduct marriage ceremonies for straight couples until same-sex couples can also wed.

Dallas County Judge Tonya Parker explained her decision Tuesday at a monthly meeting for the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas.

“I do not perform them because it is not an equal application of the law. Period,” she said, according to the Dallas Voice, a newspaper for the gay community.

Parker told the audience that while she refuses to conduct the ceremonies, she explains her reasoning to the couples and passes them along to another judge.

“I use it as my opportunity to give them a lesson about marriage equality in the state because I feel like I have to tell them why I’m turning them away,” she said.

... "it’s kind of oxymoronic for me to perform ceremonies that can’t be performed for me, so I’m not going to do it,” she added.

Same-sex marriage is not legal in Texas.

Here is some local TV coverage of the comments she made:

You can watch a more complete video of Judge Parker's comments here.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Law, Marriage, MarriageADA, Same Sex Marriage, Texas | Comments (72)

Texas Democrats Decide Not to Place Non-Binding Resolution on Gay Marriage on Primary Ballot

November 29, 2011 – 2:00 pm

The Dallas Voice:

Democrats in Texas won’t get to vote next year on whether they support same-sex marriage, after the party’s Executive Committee shot down a proposal to place a non-binding resolution on the March 2012 primary ballot.

Meeting in the capital on Saturday, Nov. 19, the State Democratic Executive Committee voted 33-22 against placing the resolution in support of same-sex marriage on the ballot, according to Dan Graney, president of the party’s LGBT caucus.

... some SDEC members feared backlash from the marriage resolution and said it could be used against Democratic candidates by their Republican opponents, Graney said.