TX: New Poll Shows 63% Favor Relationship Recognition for Gay/Lesbian Couples

Texans who attend church more than once a week are three times as likely to oppose relationship recognition for same-sex couples as those who don’t attend church at all. And Texans who didn’t complete high school are twice as likely to oppose relationship recognition as those with four-year college degrees.

Meanwhile, those who identify as "strong Democrats" are seven times as likely to support marriage equality as those who identify as "strong Republicans." And Latinos in Texas are more likely to support marriage equality than either whites or blacks.

These are among the findings of University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll released this week. Overall, the poll of 800 registered voters found that a solid majority of Texans, about 63 percent, support some form of relationship recognition for same-sex couples, either marriage or civil unions. Only 30 percent of poll respondents said they oppose both marriage and civil unions, while 7 percent said they "don’t know." The poll, conducted the first week of February, has a margin of error of 3.5 percent.

Full Story from the Dallas Voice
Click here for gay marriage resources in Texas.
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TX: El Paso Group Trying to Overturn Same Sex Partner Benefits

Barney Field has been active in El Paso's religious community since 1992, when he founded the citywide ministry El Paso for Jesus. But he has been making headlines in recent months as leader of a loose group of businessmen, ministers, churchgoers and others opposed to giving health benefits to the domestic partners of city employees.

In August, the City Council voted 7-1, with Rep. Carl L. Robinson dissenting, to give health benefits to the gay and unmarried heterosexual partners of city employees. Ever since, a group calling itself El Pasoans for Traditional Family Values has been trying to overturn that decision. The group is now circulating a petition that seeks to force a citywide vote on the issue on Nov. 2.

The group needs about 1,500 signatures to be successful. Field, 69, sat down for a interview with the El Paso Times.

Full Story from the El Paso Times
Click here for gay marriage resources in Texas.
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TX: Gay Couple to Apply for Marriage License in Texas on Freedom to Marry Day

A same-sex wedding ceremony and protest for the rights that are denied to Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgender (LGBT) couples will take place on Friday before Valentines Day, February 12 beginning at noon. The ceremony will begin in the Historical Plaza, outside the Records Building at 509 Main St. in downtown Dallas followed by the newlyweds proceeding to the marriage license office with the crowd in tow to demand a license that recognizes their union. Flowers, tuxedos, and a pastor will make this a celebratory affirmation of the couple’s marriage while at the same time demanding an end to marriage segregation. Freedom to Marry Day is being co-sponsored by Equality March Texas.

Federal and state legislation, along with a state constitutional amendment, deny some 1300 rights and obligations that accompany marriage to LGBT couples. Due to dim prospects on repealing Texas’s anti-gay constitutional amendment and legislation activists with Queer LiberAction and Equality March Texas argue that the only way for all LGBT Americans to be treated with dignity and fairly is for marriage equality to become federal law.

“The rights of LGBT couples are being used as political fodder across the country. In recent months, equality and justice have won out through the legalization of marriage equality in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Washington D.C., but defeats in Maine and New Jersey are discouraging. Obama’s inaction on advancing the LGBT struggle for equality is not only deeply disappointing but with his firm understanding in constitutional law it’s utterly intolerable as well,” says Blake Wilkinson of Queer LiberAction.

Full Story from Pegasus News
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19 Sign Up for El Paso Domestic Partner Benefits

The cost of the city government's domestic partner insurance program turned out to be much less than projected, but critics say they are not mollified. Just 19 city employees signed up so their unmarried heterosexual or gay partners can receive taxpayer-funded health insurance benefits.

The cost will be $42,000 this year, said Irene Morales, a city employee who oversees insurance programs. The city had forecast that 45 employees would be eligible and that the benefit program would cost taxpayers between $128,000 and $287,000. The overall city budget is $673.9 million, of which about $35 million each year is spent on health benefits for municipal employees and their families.

But to opponents of domestic partners benefits, the issue was never just about money. Tom Brown, pastor of Word of Life Church, said a group he has helped to organize will continue trying to overturn the new benefits.

Full Story from Insurance News Net
Click here for gay marriage resources in Texas.
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TX: Houston Elects Lesbian Mayor

The fourth largest city in the United States has made history by electing its first openly gay female mayor despite a ferocious attack by conservatives who made an issue of the fact that she is a lesbian. Annise Parker, who has been city controller, never concealed her sexual orientation and in her victory speech after defeating fellow democrat Gene Locke, she declared: “This election has changed the world for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, just as this election is about transforming Houstonians’ lives for the better.” On her campaign page, she said: “Annise and her life partner, Kathy Hubbard, have been together since 1990. They have two children.” Her victory may surprise some who see Texas as a Conservative state where gay marriage is illegal. Yet, Parker fought on a platform of fiscal conservatism, crime issues, and taxes. Full Story from Vancouverite: http://www.vancouverite.com/2009/12/13/houston-becomes-first-major-u-s-city-to-elect-openly-gay-woman-as-mayor/

Click here for gay marriage resources in Texas.

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58% in El Paso Opposed to Health and Medical Benefits for Same Sex Couples

An overwhelming number of El Pasoans are opposed to giving health and medical benefits to the same sex and unmarried partners of city employees, something City Council voted to do in August. According to a new El Paso Times poll, 58 percent of El Pasoans oppose the decision by City Council. Only 34.1 percent support the move. A relatively low number of voters, 7.9 percent, are undecided. The results do not surprise Tom Brown, the pastor at Word of Life Church. Brown is one of the main opponents of the move by City Council and is working on a petition that will force the council to rescind its decision. Full Story from El Paso Times: http://www.elpasotimes.com/health/ci_13486025

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Texas.

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Man in Texas Gay Divorce Not "A Poster Child" for Gay Marriage

A Dallas man seeking a divorce from his male spouse in Texas appeared publicly for the first time Sunday, saying he is not "a poster child" for efforts to legalize gay marriages in Texas and other states. The man, who identifies himself only as "J.B.," said on ABC’s "Good Morning America Weekend" that his petition for a divorce from his spouse of three years was not intended to be a "test case" for expanding gay rights. "This is not about gay and lesbian marriage," he said. The case drew attention after Dallas Judge Tena Callahan ruled Thursday that Texas' 4-year-old ban against gay marriages is unconstitutional because it stands in the way of gay divorces. Full Story from the Star-Telegram: http://www.star-telegram.com/dallas_news/story/1659726.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Texas.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.