June 26, 2015 5:10 PM

Gay marriage in Texas not mainstream, but closer than ever

Polls say 57 percent of Americans support gay marriage; 48 percent of Texans do

When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned state gay marriage bans like the one we had in Texas, it created a smorgasbord of interesting legal questions for Attorney General Ken Paxton. What current Texas laws are also threatened or invalidated? Will state benefits extend to gay spouses? How will adoption, custody issues, and the issuance of birth certificates change? Can a religious hospital deny visitation to a legal spouse for being gay? Will state employees who refuse to recognize gay spouses in the course of their duties be punished?

But instead of focusing on legal and logistical state issues, Paxton used the long and passionate statement issued by his office this morning to assure everyday Texans that he would protect them from the coming pro-gay—or anti-anti-gay—siege.

Paxton said progressives and the media have used gay rights issues to “publicly mock, deride, and intimidate devout individuals for daring to believe differently than they do.” But whatever the law, “Nothing will change our collective resolve that all Americans should be able to exercise their faith in their daily lives without infringement and harassment,” Paxton said.

Governor Greg Abbott also stressed in his statement this morning that a Texan could not be compelled by the Supreme Court ruling “to act contrary to his or her religious beliefs regarding marriage,” which sounded more than a little bit like some Texans are afraid they’ll be forced into gay marriages.

By Emily DePrang