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We affirm that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society and contributes to the breakdown of the family unit. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans.And...
Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable “alternative” lifestyle, in public policy, nor should “family” be redefined to include homosexual “couples.” We believe there should be no granting of special legal entitlements or creation of special status for homosexual behavior, regardless of state of origin. Additionally, we oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction or belief in traditional values.
Family and Defense of Marriage ― We support the definition of marriage as a God-ordained, legal and moral commitment only between a natural man and a natural woman, which is the foundational unit of a healthy society, and we oppose the assault on marriage by judicial activists. We call on the President and Congress to take immediate action to defend the sanctity of marriage. We are resolute that Congress exercise authority under the United States Constitution, and pass legislation withholding jurisdiction from the Federal Courts in cases involving family law, especially any changes in the definition of marriage. We further call on Congress to pass and the state legislatures to ratify a marriage amendment declaring that marriage in the United States shall consist of and be recognized only as the union of a natural man and a natural woman. Neither the United States nor any state shall recognize or grant to any unmarried person the legal rights or status of a spouse. We oppose the recognition of and granting of benefits to people who represent themselves as domestic partners without being legally married. We advocate the repeal of laws that place an unfair tax burden on families. We call upon Congress to completely remove the marriage penalty in the tax code, whereby a married couple receives a smaller standard deduction than their unmarried counterparts living together. The primary family unit consists of those related by blood, heterosexual marriage, or adoption. The family is responsible for its own welfare, education, moral training, conduct, and property.They have so much love for us
Judicial Activism in Marriage ― We support marriage and oppose the assault on marriage by judicial activists.
Enforcement of the Defense of Marriage Act ― We support the enforcement of the State and Federal Defense of Marriage Act by state and federal officials respectively, and oppose creation, recognition and benefits for partnerships outside of marriage that are being provided by some political subdivisions.
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"I don't perform marriage ceremonies because we are in a state that does not have marriage equality and until it does, I'm not going to partially apply the law to one group of people that doesn't apply to another group of people," Parker said in a video of the Tuesday discussion. "And it's kind of oxymoronic for me to perform ceremonies that can't be performed for me, so I'm not going to do it."This is an interesting stance to take. What do you think?
A spokeswoman for the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct said the commission had no comment.
The former Fox News host reportedly sold his Connecticut home for $3.6 million, and will be renting a two-acre estate in Dallas for $20,000 a month. Beck made the official announcement on his Monday radio show. This confirmed multiple earlier reports that Beck would be moving to Texas. “I can’t wait,” Beck said during his radio broadcast.Is it too late to send Texas streaming down the ocean? (sorry Toddy)
The news also came with the announcement that Beck will be opening new radio and television studios in the Lone Star State, as part of his production company Mercury Radio Arts. The company will continue to run its New York City offices and studios, according to company president Chris Balfe.
Ivan Gallardo, 17, of the 900 block of S. Tays, has been charged with Aggravated Assault and booked into the El Paso County Jail on a bond of $50,000.00.
Roman Olvera, 19, of the 2200 block of Bassett, has been charged with aggravated assault and booked into the El Paso County Jail on a bond of $50,000. Police had previously detained a 16-year-old boy in the assault of 22-year-old Lionel Martinez outside of the Old Plantation (OP) nightclub. The unnamed juvenile was referred to the Juvenile Probation Department for the offense of aggravated assault.
Martinez remains in critical condition. Police have classified the assault as being gang related and "was not not committed based on bias of race, color, disability, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, gender or sexual preference," according to police officials.
Police investigators and Special Agents from the FBI continue their investigation and anticipate more arrests, police officials said. The FBI is investigating the incident as a civil rights violation.
El Paso police officers said an investigation revealed the victim was waiting for a ride outside the Old Plantation Night Club on 301 South Ochoa Street when he was attacked around 12:20 a.m. Saturday.The young man is in critical condition.
Police said the victim, only described as a 22-year-old Hispanic man, was involved in a verbal confrontation with six other men.
The fight escalated to punching and kicking and police said one of the six men even used a bat to hit the victim.
A friend of the victim tried to intervene, but was stopped by one of the six men when he struck her Jeep with a bat and damaged the windshield, according to police.
The legislation requires doctors to conduct a sonogram at least 24 hours before an abortion and to provide the woman with the opportunity to see the results and hear the fetal heartbeat. The doctor is also required to describe what the sonogram shows.I hope women are outraged by this silly bill. It's just wrong and invasive.
In cases of incest, rape or fetal abnormality, the woman doesn't have to hear a description of the fetus.
Texas Governor Rick Perry, a Republican, stands behind the controversial measure. While different versions of the proposal were under debate earlier this year, Perry regarded the legislation as an emergency priority.
"Ensuring Texans have access to all the information when making such an important decision is a critical step in our efforts to protect life, and I look forward to this legislation reaching my desk very soon," said Perry in a statement earlier this week, lauding the state legislature for advancing the measure.
A pair of identical bills that have been introduced in the Texas House would delete language from the state penal code making "deviate sexual intercourse with another individual of the same sex" a misdemeanor offense. Under the proposals, a clause in the state's health and safety code that cites the criminal statute and states that homosexuality is "not an acceptable lifestyle" would also be repealed.The reason why they are stalling the repeal is ridic:
That is, if the legislature's Republican supermajority ever lets the bills come to a vote.
"Their silence is deafening," says Democratic State Rep. Jessica Farrar, who sponsored one of the proposals. "It's killing us. It's just as bad as if they were vocal."
State Rep. Wayne Christian, a Republican and one of the state's leading social conservative politicians, told the Austin American-Statesman last month that he likely wouldn't support the bills repealing the ban on gay sex because the House already has too much on its plate. Among other things, the legislature is debating a bill to allow college students to carry concealed firearms in lecture halls, a measure to require women to view an ultrasound before having an abortion, and legislation to prevent state courts from applying Islamic sharia law. Neither Christian nor any of the other five Republicans on the Legislature's criminal jurisprudence committee responded to Mother Jones' requests for comment.Come on, Texas! Get it together!
Farrar has no illusions about the bill's chances: "The prospects don't look good."
The request to the U.S. Department of Education made by the Texas NAACP and Texas League of United Latin American Citizens on Monday contended that the curriculum changes passed in May "were made with the intention to discriminate" and would have a "stigmatizing impact" on African-American and Latino students.At this time that Board has no true comment.
"The State of Texas is failing to provide many of its minority students with equal educational opportunities," documents sent to the federal department said.
The request, signed by Gary Bledsoe, president of the state NAACP, and Joey D. Cardenas Jr., state director of Texas LULAC, asked that implementation of the curriculum changes and new standardized tests be stopped for being racially or ethnically offensive or historically inaccurate.
Besides the curriculum complaint, they accused the state, the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Board of Education of "miseducation" of minority students, disparate discipline for minority students, using accountability standards to impose sanctions on schools with high numbers of minority students and rules leading to underrepresentation of minorities in gifted and talented school programs.
Brown, his family said, was "bullied to death" — picked on for his small size, his religion and because he did not wear designer clothes and shoes. Kids also accused him of being gay, some of them performing mock gay acts on him in his physical education class, his mother and stepfather said.
The 13-year-old's parents said they had complained about the bullying to Hamilton Middle School officials during the past 18 months, but claimed their concerns fell on deaf ears.David and Amy Truong said they made several visits to the school to complain about the harassment, and Amy Truong said she made numerous phone calls to the school that were never returned.
On the day Asher killed himself, he left a note to his parents, saying he was gay. His family said they were fine with it.That statement infuriated the Truongs, who accused the school district of protecting the bullies and their parents."That's absolutely inaccurate — it's completely false," Amy Truong said. "I did not hallucinate phone calls to counselors and assistant principals. We have no reason to make this up. … It's like they're calling us liars."David Truong said, "We want justice. The people here need to be held responsible and to be stopped. It did happen. There are witnesses everywhere."
