Press Statement from Representative Garnet F. Coleman (D-Houston) on today’s Supreme Court decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA):
“Today is a great victory for the LGBT community and yet another leap forward for marriage equality. This decision validates thousands of same-sex marriages in the US and opens the door to many more.
While Justice Kennedy made clear that this decision applies only to the federal Defense of Marriage Act, the reasoning he used could easily apply to state-level bans on marriage equality as well, including the one in Texas. For that reason, I am optimistic that courts will now follow the same general analysis. Bans on same-sex marriages serve no legitimate purpose; they are only used to relegate LGBT relationships to second class status.
For years I have fought for marriage equality and other LGBT issues in Texas, so I eagerly look forward to the various legal challenges to the bans on marriage equality that will invariably result from this decision.”
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