From the state that brought you Tom DeLay...

The Texas legislature - that august body - apparently is out to ban marriage. Here's the text of HJR 6, which will go for approval to Texas voters - that august body - in November.

Sec. 32. (a) Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman.
(b) This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/tlo/textframe.cmd?LEG=79&SESS=R&CHAMBER=H&BILLTYPE=JR&BILLSUFFIX=00006&VERSION=5&TYPE=B Let's see here: the state "may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage." Which would include marriage its own self (as we say in Texas), I reckon.

Those of you who don't live in Texas may not be aware of the profound stupidity of our legislature. Yeah, I know, you think your state legislature is densely packed with self-serving, strutting morons, but check this out: School finance is in crisis (and has been for some time) but our legal eagles have been hard at work on bills to ban lewd routines by high school cheerleaders, revoke the liquor licenses of strip bars, and most recently, this apparent ban on all marriage. Jebus - at DeLay's direction the governor called two special sessions (at major taxpayer expense) to deal with the crisis of redistricting (to eliminate as many Dems as possible) while ignoring school finance. And they continue to fiddle while the Lone Star state consolidates its position as the country's preeminent joke. After all, an uneducated voter is the Texas legislature's best friend.

*yawn*....you're a riot...lol..

Well, from what I'm reading, that line does not ban marriage per say, but that the State of Texas and counties and municipalities within cannot recognize marriage for different purposes (namely, tax and legal purposes). I'm not sure what this would mean in cases of divorce court, could be messy.

But that's not what it says.

Well, from what I'm reading, that line does not ban marriage per say, but that the State of Texas and counties and municipalities within cannot recognize marriage for different purposes (namely, tax and legal purposes). I'm not sure what this would mean in cases of divorce court, could be messy.

Sec. 32. (a) Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman.
(b) This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage.


Then what does it say?

A church is not a political subdivision of the state. An insurance company is not a political subdivision of the state. Both entities are free to recognize marriage.

It doesn't say they're banning marriage (to me). Just any legal acknowledgement of anything "imitating" marriage (the union of only one man and one woman). So they seem to be banning marriage between anyone other than one man and one woman. Though they could've just come out and said it, rather than all the stupid legal-speak.

Claude, I don't know what the drafters of this have been smoking, but I'd sure like to get some of it.

It appears that the intent is to prohibit not only Texas, but in particular any renegade political subdivision (namely, a county or city, ala San Francisco) from recognizing same-sex marriages, but the drafting is so sloppy that the Texas court system would be up to its proverbial eyeballs with litigation over its meaning, particularly over the word "identical" in that sentence, which bollixes the whole thing. Two will get you ten that this is revised before it goes on the ballot, after the drafters have gone through a 12-step basic writing course.

Claude, did you take your medicine today? Go up to the window and ask the nice lady to check for you. ;)

What he said.

Claude, I don't know what the drafters of this have been smoking, but I'd sure like to get some of it.

It appears that the intent is to prohibit not only Texas, but in particular any renegade political subdivision (namely, a county or city, ala San Francisco) from recognizing same-sex marriages, but the drafting is so sloppy that the Texas court system would be up to its proverbial eyeballs with litigation over its meaning. Two will get you ten that this is revised before it goes on the ballot, after the drafters have gone through a 12-step basic writing course.

I'm covered but thanks for asking, Doc. We take drugs pretty seriously around my house.

Claude, did you take your medicine today? Go up to the window and ask the nice lady to check for you. ;)

I'm covered but thanks for asking, Doc. We take drugs pretty seriously around my house.
That's Austin for ya. :)

^^agree

As a one-time resident of the State of Texas, I fondly remember the amusement associated with the biennial meeting of the hoople heads otherwise known as the Texas Legislature.

It's hardly surprising that the legislature might have trouble deciding just what constitutes "marriage." After all, this is a state in which introducing someone as your spouse three times constitutes a legal marriage.

It's also a state in which the Encyclopedia Britannica is banned throughout the state because it contains a recipe for making beer at home. And who can forget the state's imaginative means to control railroad traffic congestion in which two trains meeting at a track intersection requires that "neither train proceed until the other train" has passed.

Fortunately, Texas always has Oklahoma (Baja Texas) to serve as a butt of its jokes. Much as Georgia has Alabama, Alabama has Mississippi, Iowa has South Dakota and Washington has Idaho.

Is it too late to give Tejas back to Mexico?

Would you expect anything less from the state that brought us the knucklehead that is in the White House as we speak? What scares me about all this is the simple disrespect for the rights of people that have different views. There are still official laws on the books in many southern states forbidding inter-racial marriage. This is just another step in discrimination. This is why I love New England, sometimes I don't think I live far enough north to stay away from this kind of nonsense.

I think if the south tried to secede again, we would probably let them go.......

You guys know how much politics really pisses me off, which side I make my stand on, and which state I am from so guess who your new lounge moderator is? :D

... There are still official laws on the books in many southern states forbidding inter-racial marriage. This is just another step in discrimination....
I think if the south tried to secede again, we would probably let them go.......
Actually, the US Supreme Court struck down laws banning interracial marriage some years ago. Another example of them damn "activist" judges. There may some states that still maintain such laws on their books, though I doubt it. In any event, they're unenforceable.

It doesn't say they're banning marriage (to me). Just any legal acknowledgement of anything "imitating" marriage (the union of only one man and one woman). So they seem to be banning marriage between anyone other than one man and one woman. Though they could've just come out and said it, rather than all the stupid legal-speak.

I think some of you are missing the HUMOR in this law, which is why Claudius posted it.

You would have to be a complete moron to not know what that law is targeting, but read the whole thing. The state shall not CREATE or recognize anything identical to marraige. That's the funny part. Ha, ha, hee, hee, funny. It's all in the wording.

And if you think that a politician is going to leave out the confusing double-speak so they don't have any wiggle room later, you need to follow your politics a little better.

Jud

Um, TX is great except for the crappy summers. http://www.narph.com/phpbb/images/smiles/clap.gif

I like it hot. And I don't care if two people of the same sex want to be married. *shrugs*

--A non-conformist caught up in the most bass-akwards, extremely conservative city-that-wants-to-be-like-big-brother in the STATE... (Lubbock...eww) When I can I escape to Austin :D

lol...people seriously got their cars vandalized for having Kerry bumper stickers during the past election.

And the state highways' decorative overpasses were vandalized by deranged bible-thumpers who thought a concrete depiction of the "Windy Man" was satanic. :rolleyes: This is most hilarious if you have ever spent a windy summer in Lub...
Next thing you know, they'll be burning windmills.... :confused:

Hey now, Lubbock isn't that bad, that's where I lived most of my life up through high school. Of course, I then moved off to college in Waco (step backwards), and now live and work in Dallas...

The stars at night....

And to all that think the Fed would actually allow Texas to secede? I laugh VERY loudly... that would be the one instance where "it's all about the oooooooooiiiiiiiillllllllllllll" would be true

RotaryGod... would you like to explain to the yankees what would happen to their Gas prices if Texas all of a sudden became a sovereign nation once again (remember it was the ONLY NATION to enter the union...)

People in Texas WANT to be their own country again... just give us the chance...

EDIT: And my truck got vandalized in Austin for having a W sticker... that's life... terrible that people resort to petty vandalism... but neither side is angelic...

Actually, the US Supreme Court struck down laws banning interracial marriage some years ago. Another example of them damn "activist" judges. There may some states that still maintain such laws on their books, though I doubt it. In any event, they're unenforceable.

The Supreme Court also banned discrimination based on race, sex, or ethnic origin. But I suppose you will say that doesn't happen anywhere, especially not Texas.....

RotaryGod... would you like to explain to the yankees what would happen to their Gas prices if Texas all of a sudden became a sovereign nation once again (remember it was the ONLY NATION to enter the union...)

Well if W gets his way and gets to drill in Alaska, not too much.

People in Texas WANT to be their own country again... just give us the chance...


I am more for the "Jesusland" and "United States of Canada" idea.

The Supreme Court also banned discrimination based on race, sex, or ethnic origin. But I suppose you will say that doesn't happen anywhere, especially not Texas.....
Well, to be precise it was Congress that banned racial, ethnic, and gender discrimination, but the SC played a significant role in upholding such legislation. And no, I certainly wouldn't maintain that removing legal sanction for an act automatically eliminates it. (Especially not in Texas. :))

Hey now, Lubbock isn't that bad, that's where I lived most of my life up through high school. Of course, I then moved off to college in Waco (step backwards), and now live and work in Dallas...
Who has a clue about things in high school? ;)

Maybe it's gotten worse since you've lived here, but it's a pretty bizzare place. I mean, I work with the public and it is not uncommon for men to start gay-bashing amidst what seems to be normal chit chat. I am not gay, but certainly wouldn't go exploding random hatred for groups of people to strangers. lol :D

EDIT: And my truck got vandalized in Austin for having a W sticker... that's life... terrible that people resort to petty vandalism... but neither side is angelic...
:rolleyes: hooligans...they're everywhere. I say "you don't f* with a man's vehicle...you DON'T do it!"

Try wearing a big W on a shirt. I bet the cowards won't kick your ass.
Run and hide mother f*ckers, run and hide... Sorry, have had my car vandalized before; don't take to it too lightly.

...
--A non-conformist caught up in the most bass-akwards, extremely conservative city-that-wants-to-be-like-big-brother in the STATE... (Lubbock...eww) When I can I escape to Austin :D You're not the only non-conformist who ever lived in Lubbock. Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Joe Ely, and Butch Hancock all grew up there. Of course, they all left. :)

Look at it this way, it ain't Midland.

You're not the only non-conformist who ever lived in Lubbock. Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Joe Ely, and Butch Hancock all grew up there. Of course, they all left. :)
True, but they were all born and bred here, more a rarity. :) I am from Austin, hence the quasi-liberalism.

I hate labels though, and don't totally conform to the thoughts and ideas of one side or the other. I have my own ideas that I am not afraid to voice. Ooh, that's it...I can be in the group called "Other"...lmao (purposefully put because it contradicts my previous statement :) )

Look at it this way, it ain't Midland.
*eep* the city of economical segregation...lol I love the airshows there, though.

You're in WA. Have you lived in the dust bowl that is West Texas before?

...You're in WA. Have you lived in the dust bowl that is West Texas before?
No, but I grew up in Oklahoma CIty, a place that's a bit greener but largely shares the culture of west Texas. And I spent a number of years in that island of enlightenment, Austin.

ah geez, here we go with ragging on an entire state's population because of a handful of people who make laws etc.. so should we blame the entire state of California for all the lame ass crap that comes out of Hollywood? :rolleyes:

Well Cali does suck...

My favorite line about Texas politics (sorry I can't give proper attribution): "If you think the Texas legislature is bad, you should see their constituents."

ah geez, here we go with ragging on an entire state's population because of a handful of people who make laws etc.. so should we blame the entire state of California for all the lame ass crap that comes out of Hollywood? :rolleyes:

uggghh

Austin is NO 'island of enlightenment'

Its a stoned out hippy town that has 100k college kids and the various ill run government agencies.

They don't run the low polluting gas. They don't smog their cars. There is always some chemical spill into one of the public swimming areas. Their police force is AWFUL. Their housing prices are not representative of the rest of Texas. Just because Austin voted Blue and the rest of Texas voted Red doesn't make Austin 'enlightened.' It just makes me think that everyone who are ignorant of economics yet 'thinks' they are enlightened, moves there. Actions speak much louder than just a big group of people how 'speak green'. (In no way am i against the environment. I'm only against the hippies who lectured me about my truck and its pollution who then immediately get in their old 60's air cooled VW bus. Austin is not enlightened. Austin is like that snotty 13 year old kid who thinks he's great but the rest of the state is just waiting for it to grow up.

Gas prices would skyrocket for America if Texas was in even a short war with the USA more or less being a sovereign nation once again. You people always seem to forget that gas prices at the pump in America are determined by REFINING CAPACITY... not how much oil we can or can't buy. And where are the majority (i.e. 85%) of those refineries? Houston and Beaumont Texas. Not to mention more than 2 thirds of the oil reserves are in the Greater Houston area. People speak and think of Texas in a poor light because they're jealous their state doesn't have any power nor sense of nationalism (state nationalism... remember in theory the US is a union of 50 sovereign nations) nor are as conducive to business as Texas.

Get over it.

A constituent speaks.

uggghh

Austin is NO 'island of enlightenment'

Its a stoned out hippy town that has 100k college kids and the various ill run government agencies.

They don't run the low polluting gas. They don't smog their cars. There is always some chemical spill into one of the public swimming areas. Their police force is AWFUL. Their housing prices are not representative of the rest of Texas. Just because Austin voted Blue and the rest of Texas voted Red doesn't make Austin 'enlightened.' It just makes me think that everyone who are ignorant of economics yet 'thinks' they are enlightened, moves there. Actions speak much louder than just a big group of people how 'speak green'. (In no way am i against the environment. I'm only against the hippies who lectured me about my truck and its pollution who then immediately get in their old 60's air cooled VW bus. Austin is not enlightened. Austin is like that snotty 13 year old kid who thinks he's great but the rest of the state is just waiting for it to grow up.

Gas prices would skyrocket for America if Texas was in even a short war with the USA more or less being a sovereign nation once again. You people always seem to forget that gas prices at the pump in America are determined by REFINING CAPACITY... not how much oil we can or can't buy. And where are the majority (i.e. 85%) of those refineries? Houston and Beaumont Texas. Not to mention more than 2 thirds of the oil reserves are in the Greater Houston area. People speak and think of Texas in a poor light because they're jealous their state doesn't have any power nor sense of nationalism (state nationalism... remember in theory the US is a union of 50 sovereign nations) nor are as conducive to business as Texas.

Get over it.

Hey maybe Texas is onto something afterall....


Woman Charged After Rough Sex
May 31, 2005 6:39 a.m. EST

AUSTIN, TX (AHN) - Jannette Pulido, was charged with misdemeanor assault after a sexual encounter with Frederick Parke.

According to police reports, the 23-year-old became aggressive after Parke refused to have sex with her a second time. She grabbed his testicles, squeezed them, and demanded he have sex with her once more.

When he continuously refused, she called him a "loser" and threatened to cut off his penis if he fell asleep.

The Smoking Gun reports, Parke then tried to get Pulido off him and a struggle ensued, which left Parke with several scratches and bruises, including a cut along his left arm, approximately 1/2 an inch long.

The 25 year-old finally managed to get the girl out of the home. She stood outside, continued banging on the door and yelling at him; after a few minutes she left, only to return later and attempt to get inside once more. That is when authorities arrived on scene.

Both parties told police they had known each other for a short amount of time and their relationship is simply a sexual one.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of Jannette Pulido.

What's her number? :p

Putting all seriousness aside, this would be interesting to hear more about. It's revealed or discussed far less frequently than assault by men against women, but abuse by women against men does exist. I wish that "abuse" were a word that none of us ever heard of, but the real world is not an accomodating place.

In Massachusetts, it is the man who would have been arrested. Here, the man is guilty, and cannot be proven innocent, no matter the circumstances.