Every state in the country has, to one degree or another, accepted Friday’s Supreme Court decision on marriage equality. Mississippi may be stalling for time, but it’s no more than that. Texas, on the other hand, is special, particularly in its own theatrical and Alamo-addled brains. So Texas has decided to fight. Even though it has less chance of success here than Davy Crockett & Co. did in 1836.
On Friday, Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement decrying the ruling and invoking “religious liberty” as a basis for allowing state officials to continue to deny marriage licenses to same sex couples.
“Despite the Supreme Court’s rulings, Texans’ fundamental right to religious liberty remains protected. No Texan is required by the Supreme Court’s decision to act contrary to his or her religious beliefs regarding marriage.
“The Texas Constitution guarantees that ‘[n]o human authority ought, in any case whatsoever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion.’ The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion; and the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, combined with the newly enacted Pastor Protection Act, provide robust legal protections to Texans whose faith commands them to adhere to the traditional understanding of marriage.
“As I have done in the past, I will continue to defend the religious liberties of all Texans—including those whose conscience dictates that marriage is only the union of one man and one woman. Later today, I will be issuing a directive to state agencies instructing them to prioritize the protection of Texans’ religious liberties.”
Not to be outdone, even bigger right wing loon Attorney General Ken Paxton went further, claiming that Texas officials could refuse to issue marriage licenses based on religious conscience.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Sunday stated that county clerks, judges and justices of peace can deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples for religious reasons, arguing that the Supreme Court did not abolish religious liberty.
Ken Paxton, in his nonbinding legal opinion, went on to add that “numerous lawyers” would be made available to defend public officials refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples, according to The Associated Press.
“This newly minted federal constitutional right to same-sex marriage can and should peaceably co-exist with longstanding constitutional and statutory rights, including the rights to free exercise of religion and freedom of speech,” Paxton’s opinion states. Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick later requested to review the document.
I guarantee you that sometime this week, some Texas legislator will give a speech advocating for calling out the Texas Rangers to resist the issuance of marriage licenses to same sex couples, and authorizing the shooting of any damn Yankees that try to enforce the Supreme Court’s decision.
They really, really don’t like people messing with Texas. Don’t expect this resistance to end anytime soon.