Texas Judge Throws Out Same-Sex Marriage Ban

Earlier this month, District judge Tena Callahan, a democrat, ruled that the Texas ban on gay marriage violates the Constitution. It came into question when two men who were married in Massachusetts tried to get a divorce in Texas.

Attorney General Greg Abbott has intervened, arguing that if gay marriage isn't recognized in Texas, it cannot be dissolved. Callahan says that her court "has jurisdiction to hear a suit for divorce filed by persons legally married in another jurisdiction." In March, 2003, a Texas court granted the dissolution of a civil union, only to reverse that decision shortly after Abbott challenged it. If this ruling stands, it would certainly break from all previous decisions.

The two men seeking the divorce are arguing that the state "is obviously confused or worried that the court, by granting this divorce, would somehow open the floodgates for same sex marriages to occur in the state. A divorce clearly ends a marriage."

I think it absolutely will open the floodgates. Any discussion of gay marriage is good discussion, whether it's supportive or not. Allowing the idea to grow stale will cause people to forget. It's important to keep reminding the nation that marriage is important to us, that we will not back down, and that we will continue to fight for equal rights until we have them.