same-sex marriage

AG Greg Abbott: City & ISD Domestic Partner Benefits Unconstitutional (Update)

KUT Staff — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:49:19 +0000

Update: More signs from the City of Austin that Attorney General Greg Abbott's opinion won't mean any changes for now: a memo from City Manager Marc Ott on the matter. It reads, in part:

While we will continue to evaluate the Attorney General’s opinion, it continues to be our belief that the City’s domestic partner group benefits program is not prohibited by the Texas Marriage Amendment, and that the Texas Legislature did not intend the Amendment to have that effect when it was placed before the voters in 2005.
The Attorney General’s opinion does not require the City to take any specific action, and we do not intend to change domestic partner eligibility for our benefits program at this time.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins Believes County's Same-Sex Benefits Plan Legal

Bill Zeeble — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:46:47 +0000

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins believes the county's same-sex benefits plan approved last fall is legal, despite Monday's opinion from the Texas Attorney General that said local governments and school districts offering marriage benefits to same sex partners violate the state constitution.

Castro Seeking City Attorney Opinion Following Attorney General Ruling On Domestic Benefits

Ryan Loyd — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:13:24 +0000

In response to a request by state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has issued an opinion on domestic partner benefits.

Abbott said cities, school districts and other "political subdivisions" who allow benefits to domestic partners are in violation of the Texas Constitution.

Sullivan Keeps Marriage Ceremony Civil, But Same-Sex Supporters Asked To Stand Aside

Ryan Loyd — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:21:43 +0000

The midnight Valentine’s marriages at the courthouse went off without a hitch, except that a small group of equal rights supporters received a not-so-loving greeting from Bexar County deputies providing security.

This year’s marriage of lovebirds at the steps of the courthouse follows a controversial ceremony last year, when a video recording captured Pastor Joe Sullivan remarking that the same-sex couples in attendance would have to deal with God, and then urged them to leave.

Could Same-Sex Marriage Come to Texas?

Nathan Bernier, KUT News and Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 16:36:22 +0000

Could Same-Sex Marriage Come to Texas?

In recent weeks, same-sex couples in Maine, Maryland and Washington have gotten the right to marry. That's after voters in each of those states approved ballot measures clearing the way for them.

That has some people wondering: Will same-sex couples in Texas be allowed to marry?

A ruling from the U.S.