Federal Judge Rules Texas Gay Marriage Ban Unconstitutional

[Gothmog]

Source: Talking Points Memo

A federal judge in San Antonio declared Texas' ban on gay marriage unconstitutional Wednesday, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

But U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia issued a stay along with the ruling, according to the newspaper, so the ban remains in place for the time being.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/texas_gay_marriage_ban_ruled_unconstitutional

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This is great news

[Behind the Aegis]

1. Texas, always one step behind Oklahoma!

LOL!

Good news!

[Gothmog]

3. Better late than never

I am still happy even if we are slower than Oklahoma

[Behind the Aegis]

4. You know I was teasing you, right?

Our court day is in mid-April to hear the appeals to our ruling. I don't know if it will affect the stay or not.

[Gothmog]

15. I knew

I am happy with this ruling. We can discuss the merits of Texas vs Oklahoma on other threads

[OKNancy]

18. going to "like" on Facebook and annoy my friends

LOL - it won't annoy most of them, since I defrocked all Republicans.

[louis-t]

2. Bans on marriage will never stand the

constitutional test. They will all fail. Might take a while.

[blkmusclmachine]

30. Not if "The Church of Scalia" (also known as the Supreme Court) has anything to say about it...

[merrily]

36. The views of Scalia did not prevail in the Windsor case, thanks to Kennedy.

Kennedy wrote that opinion relatively broadly, too. So, I am hopeful.

[warrant46]

38. It is the Church of Scalia

He has a direct line to the Anti-Christ--A/K/A the Pope

[TBF]

5. The 5th Circuit is not going to be helpful -

but similar cases have been filed in various jurisdictions. Eventually we will get there (a more progressive Supreme Court would be helpful).

Here's your image for Facebook:

[ag_dude]

13. Is there a reason for those specific colors?

[2QT2BSTR8]

22. Equality Texas

The colors in question are the colors of Equality Texas, which was one of the lead supporters of this cause.
You can find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EqualityTexas

[ag_dude]

24. I see.

I didn't know about the state organization.

Thank you.

[Cha]

6. YES!

[William769]

7. kick & recommended.

[Botany]

8. And republicans are gonna be "a sad."

[blkmusclmachine]

31. Bwahahahahaha

[RKP5637]

9. Congratulations Texas !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[onehandle]

10. Good. Start the forced gay marriages of GOPNRAteahadists. nt

[Faygo Kid]

11. The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice

Give it up, Arizona.

[get the red out]

12. Tidal wave of justice

seems to be on its way.

[Aristus]

14. Expect to hear talk of 'nullification' again soon.

But congrats to LGBT's in Texas! Let's hope this goes someplace...

[Gothmog]

16. Remember that Greg Abbott is a bad attorney

I have hope that this ruling will be upheld. Greg loses a large number of cases to want a promotion

[closeupready]

17. Good news. Separately, how much money and time has been wasted

by Republicans in support of hating on minorities? I mean, is this all they have time to do?

It's no wonder they have entered the final days of their irrelevancy. Who wants to be represented by failure?

[Ash_F]

19. Orlando Luis Garcia; Clinton nominee

This is why we need to keep a Dem in office for the next 8 year cycle. The Reagan/Bush 1 bots are dropping off.

[merrily]

35. Justice Kennedy, nominated by a Republican, cast the deciding vote

in the Windsor case and wrote the majority opinion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Windsor

Three of the most liberal SCOTUS Justices in all of American history were Warren, Stevens and Ginsburg. Warren and Stevens were both appointed by Republicans. Kagan and Breyer, both nominated by Democrats, voted against Medicaid expansion in Part 2 of the Obamacare decision.

So, you never know, though I grant you that playing the odds supports your post.

[ashling]

20. But we still can't do anything about gay fracking (LOL)

[morningfog]

21. I love that the reactionary and hateful states

expedite equality. It is the hateful amendments that get overturned. The states that have no ban or have just civil unions don't have the bans to go against. The percedent is spreading and holding. There is no divisions in the federal courts on this anymore.

[Kber]

33. Interesting point!

[2QT2BSTR8]

23. Texas LGBT marriage ban struck down

Goodness, I never expected to hear or even type those words in my lifetime. Here is the full ruling for those parties who might be interested, or who want to pass it on. http://www.scribd.com/doc/209429696/Texas-Gay-Marriage-Ruling

[Gothmog]

32. Here is an alternative link that is easier to print

I like to read a hard copy of decisions like this. Here is a link that you can print.
http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Texas-Same-Sex-Marriage-Decision.pdf

[Dopers_Greed]

25. Hooray!

Finally a reason to be proud of my state!

[LiberalAndProud]

26. So, will other states' amendments be revisited?

http://nebraskafamilyalliance.org/the-issues/marriage-and-family/defense-of-marriage-amendment/

I can hope.

[swimboy]

27. I see the hand writing on the wall . . .

and it says that

I am FABULOUS!

[Gothmog]

28. Juanita Jean is sad that the order was stayed

http://www.juanitajean.com/2014/02/26/good-news-and-bad-news/#comments She was looking forward to some fun wedding announcements

[blkmusclmachine]

29. The Judge stayed his own decision, so another hollow "victory."

[merrily]

34. I hope Justice Kennedy continues to agree with the left on gay marriage.

Each of Roberts, Alito and Scalia dissented from Kennedy's majority opinion in the Windsor case and Thomas joined all three dissents.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Windsor

[Gothmog]

37. I have scanned the Texas opinion

This opinion cites Kennedy numerous times because the judge knows that Kennedy will be the deciding vote