Jeff Davis
Jeff Davis, chairman of Log Cabin Republicans of Texas, sent us the following piece responding to the the Republican anti-equality amicus brief filed in the Texas marriage case before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
On Monday, Aug. 11, 63 Texas Republican elected officials signed an amicus brief arguing that the recognition of same-sex marriage could lead to the legalization of incest, pedophilia and polygamy. The brief, which was filed with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, is in response to U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia’s decision which deemed the Texas ban on same-sex marriage violated the 14th Amendment’s clauses regarding due process and equal protection.
The amicus brief states the following:
“The district court broadened the definition of the ‘existing right to marry’ as one that includes the right of people to ‘select the partners of their choosing’ for marriage, without regard to sex. If the right to select ‘partners of their choosing’ is the criterion used to invoke marriage as a fundamental right, then marriage restrictions on age, polygamy, and consanguinity are also ripe for challenge.”
Log Cabin Republicans of Texas wishes to remind these 63 elected officials that they are meant to represent their constituents, most of whom have evolved on the issue of same-sex marriage. A 2013 poll conducted by Public Policy Polling found that 51 percent of Republicans in Texas support same-sex marriage or civil unions. The same poll found that 63 percent of voters in Texas support same-sex marriage or civil unions, meaning 63 percent of Texas voters do not support the same-sex marriage ban these elected officials are trying to restore.
Sixty-three percent is a powerful number, especially in a gubernatorial election year. A vast majority of Republicans are extremely upset with party leadership over the shift to extreme right-wing politics that are making our state the laughingstock of the country. Texas Republicans are angry that the party chose to endorse reparative therapy in the state party platform, an ill-thought and embarrassing move that has given our party nothing but embarrassing press and has given gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis nothing but ammunition against us. Groups like Republican Liberty Caucus, Young Republicans and Log Cabin Republicans of Texas have publicly spoken out against the current platform and particularly the party’s stance on LGBT issues.
The filing of this brief sends a clear message. Party leadership has lost its connection with Republican voters. While there’s no way to fix what has already been done, Log Cabin Republicans of Texas hopes that these 63 elected officials, and all Republican legislators in Texas, remind themselves as to what the party really stands for. We are the party of limited government, and we are the party of inclusion. Let’s get back to that, and let’s keep Texas red.
