In a somber and defiant statement, Attorney General Ken Paxton proclaimed his next battlefront would be in defense of religious liberty.
“The truth is that the debate over the issue of marriage has increasingly devolved into personal and economic aggression against people of faith who have sought to live their lives consistent with their sincerely held religious beliefs about marriage,” he said. “It is not acceptable that people of faith be exposed to such abuse.”
Hours later, Gov. Greg Abbott sent a memo to the heads of state agencies directing them to “preserve, protect, and defend the religious liberty of every Texan." That order “applies to any agency decision,” including granting or denying benefits, the memo says.
- Texas Counties' Responses to Marriage Ruling Vary.
Elated couples across Texas hurried into county clerks' offices Friday to apply for marriage licenses following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.
Some offices quickly began issuing licenses, including those in Travis, Harris, Tarrant, Bexar, Dallas, El Paso, Hidalgo and Midland counties. Other counties — including Maverick, Ector, Victoria, Potter and Bastrop — were waiting to hear from State Attorney General Ken Paxton on how to proceed.
- What Are States With Same-Sex Marriage Bans Doing Now?
With the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling Friday morning, same-sex marriage is legal nationwide. For the 36 states, plus the District of Columbia, where such unions are already permitted, the ruling is cause for celebration for the LGBT community, and won't have any actual effect.
But what about the 14 states where gay marriage hasn't been fully implemented—where there are laws banning it, for example, or it's in legal limbo? Governors and attorneys general are facing a decision: Will they abide by the Court's ruling, or will they try to fight it?
- How Same-Sex Marriage Advocates Won America.
For more than 20 years, the campaign to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide has been inching strategically toward the Supreme Court. And Friday, that strategy paid off: Same-sex couples can now get married in every state.
The Court's 5-4 ruling wasn't that surprising; for the past year or two, it even looked like a foregone conclusion. But the historic victory for gay couples didn't just happen; Justice Anthony Kennedy didn't simply wake up one day and decide it was time. It was the culmination of a long, intensive, and deliberate campaign.
Part of the strategy was to build public support; part of it was to win legislative victories in the states. But the ultimate target was always the Supreme Court.
