Lots to be proud of in Texas especially when one considers the constitutional amendments being put to a vote, particularly proposition two. While at a loss for how to pay for adequate public education in Texas and lacking either leadership or the will to consider the problem seriously, the lege did find the time to give ‘we the people’ the opportunity to exercise our collective predjudices and vote to make gay marriage illegal.
Of course gay marriage is already illegal in Texas, but the new amendment will make it really illegal. After all, denying marriage to a group of people is only just a way to protect marriage in much the same way that denying liberties to some groups of people protects liberty. Right? Something like that… Anyway, the Texas Constitution already has more than four hundred amendments, so why not try to push it up to an even 500?
Seriously, though, both the far-right conservatives and the KKK (scheduled to rally in Austin on Nov. 5), seem to agree that re-banning gay marriage in Texas will help protect marriage. And perhaps there really is a threat out there. We can’t take chances on this because gay marriage could pose a threat to everything the KKK supports “decent family values.” And looking beyond the concerns of the Klan, I keep hearing and reading that it will be beneficial for some Texas families and their children to know that other loving families will be denied this legal status.
When the subject of protecting marriage in Texas comes up, however, it’s interesting to note that in Texas, marriage can be entered into at the age of 16, or at even younger ages if a judge approves it. This was not uncommon among my high school students (I’m talking underclassmen here) when I was a teacher. With the bar this low (as a bar must be at an early-teen bachelor party), it’s important to remember that if you hear a Texan talk about defending marriage for his children, he might really mean it.
One can only hope that when the ballots are counted next week, Texans will break with the Klan and vote down this ugly constitutional amendment.
I ain’t holdin’ my breath.
James Brush is a teacher and writer who lives in Austin, TX. He tries to get outside as much as possible.
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