When we saw the news about Houston Mayor Annise Parker (right) marrying her longtime partner, Kathy Hubbard (left), in California on Thursday, we braced for the avalanche of vitriol from angry right-wingers. We didn’t have to wait long.
This morning Dave Welch of the Houston Area Pastor Council (HAPC) launched a vicious personal attack on the couple and their relationship. From his press release:
“The sad reality is that Annise Parker believes this legitimizes her relationship, her lifestyle and her radical agenda to overturn our moral, civil and constitutional law. It does not, and her marriage is not recognized in this city or state.”
“From opening city restrooms to the gender confused to ignoring the city charter and state constitution, to cutting deals with strip club owners, etc., Parker has acted the tyrant in violation of her oath of office,”
“Just like President Obama, the rule of law and the concept that elected officials are subject to their oath of office to uphold the constitution are arcane relics of our republic that must be cast off for their progressive leadership. As did predecessors of their philosophy who have despised the Judeo-Christian moral law, the value of the traditional family and marriage and a limited, constitutional republic, Parker believes her election is a blank check. It is not, and if she thinks that her marriage that is illegitimate before God and before the law of Texas will give her greater freedom to force her agenda on the people, she is mistaken.”
Actually, the marriage of Parker and Hubbard does conform “to the rule of law” — same-sex marriage is legal in California. It is not against the law for couples — gay or straight — to travel to another state to get married. Moreover, their marriage is recognized as legal by the federal government. We will see how long it is before Texas also legally recognizes such unions.
The news website Lone Star Q reports that Harris County Republican Party Chair Jared Woodfill is also denouncing Parker’s marriage. Woodfill sent out a sneering email suggesting that Parker got married so that her family can get taxpayer money:
Remember those illegal “same-sex” marriage benefits that were ruled unconstitutional and a violation of Texas Family Code some weeks ago? Mayor Parker apparently cannot take a hint, and is now upping the stakes, taking her liberal political agenda for City Hall to a whole new level. Mayor Parker is now in a position to pay herself these same benefits under the guise of her new “marriage.” The law, and now taxpayer money, evidently matters little to the Mayor of Houston. We will not allow this reckless and lawless behavior to continue. We will continue to fight Mayor Parker and her illegal actions.
But as John Wright at Lone Star Q points out, the courts haven’t yet decided whether the city can extend benefits to the same-sex spouses of its employees who are legally married in other states. Regardless, a press release from Parker’s office makes clear that her wife isn’t seeking those benefits.
