Perhaps it’s because they were too distracted by the fallout over state Sen. Wendy Davis’ historic filibuster.
Or perhaps they realize LGBT issues are losing their effectiveness as a political wedge, even in solidly red states like Texas. (Note this Associated Press story from yesterday.)
Or perhaps it’s a little of both.
But whatever the reason, statewide GOP leaders in Texas have been surprisingly mum about the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic decision this week striking down a key section of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Attorney General Greg Abbott are all Republicans and strong supporters of Texas’ 2005 constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, which also prohibits civil unions, domestic partnerships and anything “identical or similar to marriage.” But none of the three has issued any kind of official statement responding to the high court’s decisions, which will inevitably pave the way for Texas’ marriage ban to be struck down.
In fact, Republican Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, who’s running for lieutenant governor in 2014, is the only statewide official who’s issued a statement. Staples also happens to have co-authored Texas’ marriage amendment when he was a state senator in 2005.
“I’m very disturbed by today’s SCOTUS rulings on marriage,” Staples wrote on Twitter. “But I remain even more committed to fighting for our conservative values.”
Other notable anti-gay officials from Texas who commented on the ruling include U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a possible presidential candidate in 2016.
“Today’s Supreme Court decisions on marriage are a regrettable overreach against the will of the people as expressed through large, bipartisan majorities in Congress and directly through referendum in California — a markedly blue state,” Cruz said in a statement posted on his website. “Nothing in the Constitution compelled this result, and, once again, the Court has chosen to substitute its own views of public policy for the democratically expressed will of the voters. The family is the fundamental building block of society, and I strongly support traditional marriage between one man and one woman. The voters of California made that same choice, until the courts improperly substituted their preferences for those of the people. Our Federalism allows different states to make different policy judgments based on the values and mores of their citizens. Federal courts should respect that diversity and uphold that popular sovereignty, not impose their own policy agenda.”
In the U.S. House, Republican Congressman Ralph Hall of Rockwall, who will forever be known to the LGBT community for mistakenly wondering into a Victory Fund reception, also slammed the decisions.
“Congress passed and President Clinton signed into law the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, and the Court’s decision strikes down a provision in a law that is still important to a majority of Americans — and especially to those in my district,” Hall said. “This is a blow to traditional family values and another reason that we need a President who will stand up for those values.”
On the pro-equality side, Dallas Democratic Congressman Eddie Bernice Johnson — who actually voted in favor of DOMA in 1996 but is now a co-sponsor of the bill to repeal it, is among those who’ve issued statements lauding the high court’s decision to strike down Section 3 of the law.
“As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month, the Court’s decision is a timely affirmation of our commitment to preserve equal rights for all Americans,” Johnson said. “Discrimination in all of its forms is still inequality, and I am proud that the highest court in our land has taken a strong stance in favor of equal rights for all Americans.
“I was proud to join with 211 of my House and Senate colleagues to file an amicus brief, urging the Court to uphold the lower court’s ruling in U.S. v. Edith Schlain Windsor that DOMA is unconstitutional,” Johnson said. “With this landmark decision, same-sex couples will now have access to more than 1,100 federal laws, programs, and benefits that were traditionally afforded only to opposite-sex couples. Today’s decision moves our country forward as we continue to fight for equal rights for all American citizens. ”
The other day we reported on statements from Mayor Mike Rawlings, District Clerk Gary Fitzsimmons and Houston Mayor Annise Parker. But we also managed to get one out of lesbian Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez.
“Until now, it was easier to deny the rights of the LGBT community in Texas,” Valdez said. “Now no one can deny us equal rights, though same-sex marriage is still not recognized by the state of Texas. Although in Texas, there may be a lot of opposition, it is never wrong to be on the side of humanity.”
Meanwhile, Dem0cratic County Judge Clay Jenkins tweeted: “The Supreme Court decision underscores the basic premise that when all our people are treated as equal we are all more free.”
And speaking of Rawlings, we did follow up with his chief of staff, Paula Blackmon, to find out whether his widely panned congratulatory tweet means he would now support a council resolution in support of LGBT equality similar to the one he killed earlier this month.
“The mayor continues to maintain his position for a memo with 5 signatures be submitted in order for consideration of a resolution by Dallas City Council,” Blackmon wrote.
