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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGreg Abbott: Texas gay marriage ban reduces out-of-wedlock births
Writing in a brief filed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, Abbott said the state was not obligated to prove why gay marriage might be detrimental to the economic or social well-being of Texans. It was only required to show how opposite-sex marriage would be more beneficial for its citizens.
The State is not required to show that recognizing same-sex marriage will undermine heterosexual marriage, the brief read. It is enough if one could rationally speculate that opposite-sex marriages will advance some state interest to a greater extent than same-sex marriages will.
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He added, Second, Texass marriage laws are rationally related to the States interest in reducing unplanned out-of-wedlock births. By channeling procreative heterosexual intercourse into marriage, Texass marriage laws reduce unplanned out-of-wedlock births and the costs that those births impose on society. Recognizing same-sex marriage does not advance this interest because same-sex unions do not result in pregnancy.
In the brief, Abbott concedes that same-sex marriage might have some positive effects for society, like increasing household wealth and adoptions or providing a more stable environment for children raised by gay couples. While there might be benefits, however, he said its for the Legislature, not the courts, to decide whether to expand the right to marry.
http://blog.chron.com/texaspolitics/2014/10/abbott-texas-gay-marriage-ban-reduces-out-of-wedlock-births/
I am floored by the level of ignorance and misogyny in this statement. If out of wedlock births are so feared by the Texas AG they they need to address poverty in their state which is a cause, or maybe try providing access to birthcontrol for the impoverish in the state, not limiting it even further. Medicaid expansion in the state would have a direct effect on decreasing the number of unwed couples making babies down there, but gay marriage is what they want to blame the problem on?
On a brighter note, If you're a gay person in Texas wanting to get married in the near future, I don't see how even the conservative stuffed fifth circuit court is going to be able to rule in favor of this lame argument.
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)mythology
(9,527 posts)You would think that a state that had Ann Richards as governor would maybe want to again have a governor who isn't a complete and utter idiot. But between Bush the younger, Perry and soon to be Abbott, I'm not sure the combined IQ would reach triple digits.
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)Sorry, I am not getting the argument. All I could hear is "gays, I don't like 'em".
herding cats
(19,564 posts)Beyond that he's got nothing.
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)*snort* I can't believe I typed that with a straight face.
Louisiana1976
(3,962 posts)the polls says something unflattering about te voters of Texas.
niyad
(113,275 posts)nomorenomore08
(13,324 posts)hollysmom
(5,946 posts)I think that should be brought up to him to give him something else stupid to think about. I have friends in Texas and I have friends in Florida, but I think their state legislatures might be fighting out the stupidest state title. It has nothing to do with them, that they are saddled with people who don't bring their brains to the voting booth.
QED
(2,747 posts)Is this supposed to make sense? I can't follow the logic, if there is any logic here.
roamer65
(36,745 posts)...without actually saying it. The Rethuglican mindset should be listed as a mental illness.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,310 posts)...couples to get married and have children, so they shouldn't do it.
"It is enough if one could rationally speculate that opposite-sex marriages will advance some state interest to a greater extent than same-sex marriages will." He really thinks that the more same-sex marriages there are, the less opposite-sex ones there'll be? The man's a grade A moron.
uppityperson
(115,677 posts)Recognizing elder marriage does not advance this interest because elder unions do not result in pregnancy.
RKP5637
(67,105 posts)Gothmog
(145,152 posts)This is a really dumb arguement
JI7
(89,247 posts)and not a small number or even a small but significant number, but close to majority
Rex
(65,616 posts)then Rick Perry showed up and I thought the same thing...then Abbott showed up. They just keep getting dumber and dumber.
Takket
(21,563 posts)That may be the most inane unamerican thing I've ever heard. Regulating relationships between consensual adults to what the stare thinks is best for them??? And these people call themselves the party of freedom????
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)would be to put all these people on an island without clothing, a limited amount of food, and lots of cameras. We could name it Hetrosexual Island. Then they would see just how unhappy they could be when someone interferes with their life.