NOM BLOG

Texas AG: Same-Sex Partner Benefits Violate State Constitution

 

From a CBS affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth comes this story:

Local governments and school districts that offer marriage benefits to same-sex partners are violating the state constitution, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott stated in an opinion Monday.

[...] In a six-page opinion, Abbott found that the constitution “prohibits political subdivisions from creating a legal status of domestic partnership and recognizing that status by offering public benefits based upon it.” He said city governments and school districts constitute political subdivisions.

Abbot weighed in on the matter at the request of state Senator Dan Patrick of Houston, who "argued that Texas amended its constitution in 2005 to define marriage as between one man and one woman, while prohibiting government entities from recognizing anything similar to marriage."

Patrick is concerned that Texas law states "cities, counties and school districts cannot subvert the will of Texans" but that this is precisely what is happening in those municipalities and school districts which offer same-sex partner benefits.

You can read the full story here.

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