Overturning a lower court decision,
the Texas Supreme Court recently ruled that spouses of homosexual public
employees are not entitled to government benefits. In its conclusion, the justices ruled that
although the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell
v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage, it did not include adequate guidance
for marriage benefits. Therefore, the lawsuit
introduced against Houston by the conservative group Texas Values and taxpayers
Jack Pidgeon and Larry Hicks can proceed. In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs argued that
the city had violated the Texas Constitution.
Justice Jeffrey Boyd authored the
unanimous opinion. “We agree with the
Mayor [of Houston] that any effort to resolve whether and the extent to which
the Constitution requires states or cities to provide tax-funded benefits to
same-sex couples without considering Obergefell would simply be erroneous,”
Boyd wrote. “On the other hand, we agree
… that the Supreme Court did not address and resolve that specific issue in
Obergefell.”
LGBT groups slammed the Texas Supreme
Court’s decision, noting they are ready to make their appeals to federal
courts.
“The Texas Supreme Court’s decision is
a warning shot to all LGBTQ Americans that the war on marriage equality is
ever-evolving, and anti-LGBTQ activists will do anything possible to
discriminate against our families,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of
GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation).
Courts all over the country are still
struggling with Obergefell’s reach. For
instance, under the new court ruling, should a Christian baker in Colorado be forced
to whip up a cake for a homosexual wedding? Religious freedom advocates know
how to answer that one.
Rev.
Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor,
Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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