Tag: Texas

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Texas: Federal judge to hear oral arguments in marriage equaltiy lawsuit today

Big day in Texas for the LGBT community. A federal judge will hear oral arguments regarding the legality of the state’s ban on marriage equality.

Via Lone Star Q:

Two same-sex couples are seeking a preliminary injunction in their lawsuit challenging the state’s marriage bans on grounds they violate their right to equal protection under the U.S. Constitution. The Texas Legislature banned same-sex marriage by statute in 1997 and again in 2003, and Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman in 2005.

U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia, a President Bill Clinton appointee, could rule from the bench today on the injunction or issue a decision later. If Garcia grants the injunction, it’s likely his decision will be stayed and immediately appealed to the conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals by Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott. Experts say it’s unlikely there would be any window for same-sex marriages to occur.

The hearing will begin at 9:30AM today in San Antonio.

UPDATE: No decision was announced today.

https://twitter.com/lsqnews/status/433652140850941952
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“Affluenza” teen drunk driver may get jail time after all

The Daily Beast is reporting that “affluenza teen” Ethan Crouch, who killed four people while drunk driving might get jail time after all”

Prosecutors in Texas on Wednesday announced they would ask a juvenile judge to sentence the 16-year-old drunk driver on two cases of intoxication assault.

Crouch received 10 years’ probation for killing four people but was not sentenced for injuring two.

The probation sentence handed down last week following Crouch’s “affluenza” defense, ignited a national firestorm.

If prosecutors are successful this time, Crouch could serve three years in juvenile prison.

In addition to killing four people that fateful night, Crouch seriously injured two people riding in the back of his pickup truck. Sergio Molina, as a result of those injuries, is paralyzed and can communicate only by blinking, according to testimony in last week’s trial.

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Texas: Trans student not allowed in yearbook wearing a tuxedo

Why would anyone care what someone wears in their high school yearbook photo?

Officials at the Texas school want to stop Jeydon Loredo, a male student, from being featured in the yearbook wearing his tuxedo like every other boy, simply because he’s transgender.

This kind of discrimination isn’t just wrong – it’s in direct violation of federal law and the school’s very own policies.
 
The issue has been appealed to the school board with the help of our partners in this effort, the Southern Poverty Law Center. Jeydon’s family has asked equality supporters like you to help ensure that Jeydon can appear in the school’s yearbook wearing his tuxedo.

Send a message to the La Feria School Board that this is wrong by clicking here.

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Texas: Annise Parker re-elected as mayor of Houston for third term

Annise Parker re-elected as mayor of Houston, TX

Annise Parker was reelected to her third (and final term) as mayor of Houston yesterday.

From the Houston ABC affiliate:

Parker claimed victory after her biggest challenger, former Houston City Attorney Ben Hall, took to a stage minutes before to concede the race. “I love this city. Tonight, I feel like it loves me back, so thank you for the very warm welcome. Thank you. Thank you to the many people who made this victory possible,” Parker said. “I want to make Houston an even better place to live, work and raise a family. I thank my family for the great support that they always give me but the amount of time they’ve taken to run the campaign.”

Hall’s concession came after only 8 percent of precincts reported Parker had taken 50 percent of the votes. But as more votes poured in, Parker’s lead continued to grow.

Houston remains the largest US city with an openly gay mayor.

(via JMG)

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Baylor University Student Body President vetoes removing “homosexual acts” from school’s misconduct code

HodgesLast week, Baylor University’s Student Senate voted to pass the Sexual Misconduct Code Non-Discrimination Act, which would remove “homosexual acts” from the school’s “sexual misconduct code.”

The Student Body President vetoed that decision on Thursday, the Waco Tribune reports:

Student Body President Wesley Hodges told the Student Senate Thursday that the university’s board of regents likely would not have granted final approval for the change to the policy, especially because the full student body had not had a chance to weigh in on the topic.

The senate did not achieve a two-thirds majority to override the veto during a vote in a closed session.

“I truly believe that Baylor treats its students with grace, love and truth, and in doing that seeks to accept all students, but does not affirm all student behaviors,” Hodges said. “Simply because the university disagrees with your actions or lifestyle, does not imply that it is seeking to attack you.”

(via Towleroad)

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Texas: State Senator Wendy Davis to announce run for Governor

Next week Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis, who catapulted to national fame for her marathon filibuster of an anti-abortion bill, plans to formally announce to her bid to run for governor.

Ms. Davis’s decision has the potential to turn the race to determine Gov. Rick Perry’s successor into a rare competitive showdown between long-suffering Texas Democrats and the Republican conservatives who have ruled state politics for decades.

She would enter the race as a substantial underdog, but her candidacy would represent the most serious challenge to the Republican lock on the office.

Two Republicans, Mr. Perry and George W. Bush, have held the office since the party began its winning streak in governor’s races in 1994, with Mr. Bush’s victory over the incumbent, Ann W. Richards.

Yesterday Davis tweeted: “A week from today, I’m announcing something big. Can you chip in now to show the strength of our grassroots network?”

(h/t JMG)

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San Antonio council woman Elise Chan doubles down on anti-gay “disgusting” statements

San Antonio council member Elisa Chan has made a much-awaited full-length statement regarding her homophobic comments, exposed by a secret recording last week.

In a staff strategy session, Chan was caught saying homosexuality is “against nature” and that gay people shouldn’t be granted adoption rights, among other controversial comments.  Chan attributed her absence in the days after the fallout to an out-of-town family trip. During the City Hall press conference Tuesday morning, Chan continued to defend her remarks as protected under free speech and privacy rights.

“I know that many people find the comments made in the meeting offensive, but again it was a confidential meeting set in the privacy of my office where none of us are supposed to worry about what we say,” said Chan. “These meetings have been and will always be a free-speech zone.”

“There are additional comments you are aware of that reflect my belief system. My belief system is mine and it does not mean I want to impose those beliefs onto anyone else,” she said. “Even though the LGBT community and I do not share the same views, I respect and support their personal freedoms and right to their lifestyle.”

“I will however, not change my own values or beliefs for political gain or survival; I would not expect that of anyone else. I stand firm in my right to have my private views in a private conversation,” said Chan, to loud applause from the audience, many of whom wore blue clothing– symbolizing their opposition to the LGBT equality ordinance.

“Political correctness will not win this day; standing firm as an individual in service to the whole community does,” she added.

An apology was not issued.

(source)

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You may live in Texas if…

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about folks from Texas:

  • If someone in a Lowe’s store offers you assistance and they don’t work there, you may live in Texas
  • If you’ve worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Texas
  • If you’ve had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Texas
  • If ‘Vacation’ means going anywhere south of Dallas for the weekend, you may live in Texas
  • If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Texas
  • If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Texas
  • If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph –you’re going 80, and everybody’s passing you, you may live in Texas
  • If you find 60 degrees ‘a little chilly,’ you may live in Texas

(h/t my BFF Carlye)

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San Antonio Councilwoman recorded talking anti-gay bigotry

From the My San Antonio news site:

“So disgusting!” That exclamation escaped the lips of District 9 Councilwoman Elisa Chan on May 21 in her City Hall office, where she was meeting with members of her staff to discuss the city’s proposal to update its nondiscrimination ordinance, adding protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.

In the course of the conversation, Chan expressed her unvarnished views on homosexuality, which range from befuddled to intolerant. She revealed that she believes being gay is a choice and that gay people should not be allowed to adopt children, and she voiced revulsion toward the LGBT community.

Unbeknown to the councilwoman, an aide, James Stevens, was secretly recording the meeting on his iPhone. (He’s now a former aide; Stevens, 28, quit this week.)

Chan’s former chief of policy, Jeff Bazan, who now works as the chief of staff for a different city council member, is heard suggesting that the growing acceptance of gay marriage will lead to “incest and being able to marry animals, that’s all going to happen.”

Yesterday Bazan pulled back and gave some CYA explanation regarding his comments, telling the San Antonio Express-News, “I was basically explaining the viewpoint that some people have on the gay marriage issue. What I said was wrong and I deeply regret it.”

Councilwoman Chan has not apologized as of today.

I think the discussion itself proves why the ordinance needs to be addressed and updated.

(source)