Here are some of the week’s most notable quotes culled from news reports from across Texas, and beyond.
Arkansas Circuit Judge Chris Piazza, overturning the state’s ban on same-sex marriage and citing the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned that state’s ban on interracial marriage.
It has been over forty years since Mildred Loving was given the right to marry the person of her choice. The hatred and fears have long since vanished and she and her husband lived full lives together; so it will be for the same-sex couples. It is time to let that beacon of freedom shine brighter on all our brothers and sisters. We will be stronger for it.
————————————-
Chief Justice Roy Moore of the Alabama Supreme Court, declaring that the First Amendment only applies to Christians.
Buddha didn’t create us, Mohammed didn’t create us, it was the God of the Holy Scriptures.
————————————-
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, sending some of the strongest signals that he’ll run for president again in 2016.
I think America is a place that believes in second chances.
————————————-
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, in a dissenting opinion of a ruling that found Christian prayers said before meetings of an Upstate New York town council did not violate the constitutional prohibition against government establishment of religion.
When the citizens of this country approach their government, they do so only as Americans, not as members of one faith or another. And that means that even in a partly legislative body, they should not confront government-sponsored worship that divides them along religious lines.
————————————-
Mustafa Tameez, columnist for the Houston Chronicle’s “In the Loop” politics blog, on why the Equal Rights Ordinance is coming at the right time for the city of Houston.
We have made much progress in eliminating discrimination in America, Texas, and Houston. However, this progress does not mean that there isn’t still more work for all of us to do.
————————————-
Rep. Tom Cotton (R-Ar) explaining in a letter to a constituent why he doesn’t support job protections for LGBT employees, claiming as well that the protected classes would be “subjective”.
The proposed [Employment Non-Discrimination Act] legislation, unfortunately, could have the unintended consequence of making it harder for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation, to find jobs. It might encourage frivolous lawsuits designed to win big legal fees, not to promote equality before the law.