Gay marriage activists, frustrated with delays in what could be a pivotal lawsuit, took aim virtually at Gov. Rick Perry and Attorney General Greg Abbott, urging them to stop defending the state's gay marriage ban.
Equality Texas and Freedom to Marry on Tuesday asked supporters to sign a petition urging Perry and Abbott to end their opposition to DeLeon v. Perry, the federal lawsuit challenging the state's gay marriage ban.
26 consecutive victories. It's time to drop the appeal.
Subsequent to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Windsor, 26 consecutive court rulings have affirmed the freedom to marry, including last week's ruling in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in an Oklahoma case. These rulings continue to affirm that state-level prohibitions on the freedom to marry violate the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution.
Here in Texas, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ruled in our favor this past February in theDeLeon v Perry case. However, Attorney General Greg Abbott and Governor Rick Perry continue to appeal this decision in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.
Abbott and Perry are standing in the way of freedom for all Texans, and every day that the appeal continues is a day in which Texas couples and their families are harmed. We must show Abbott & Perry that thousands of people across Texas want them to drop their harmful appeal.
Today, join Equality Texas, Southerners for the Freedom to Marry, and thousands of Texans who are urging Governor Perry and Attorney General Abbott to understand that banning same-sex couples from marrying is simply indefensible.
Abbott, campaigning to replace Perry this fall, has appealed a federal judge's decision in February striking down the Texas ban. Since, he's stalled filing an appeal, which is due July 28.
We know that even one more day is just too long for same-sex couples and their families to wait for the freedom to marry. It's time for all Texans to join together and tell Gov. Perry and AG Abbott that their appeal of the freedom to marry is hurting families each and every day.
The groups plan to deliver the petitions to Perry and Abbott. Best of luck. It didn't work in Georgia.
