Protecting Marriage or Blowing Smoke ?

April 26, 2005, 3:39PM
House OKs proposal to ban gay marriage
The measure to amend constitution now goes to Senate
By CLAY ROBISON
Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN - Voting for the second time in two weeks to restrict the rights of homosexuals, the Texas House on Monday approved a measure to lock into the state constitution a ban on same-sex marriages and civil unions.
After often-impassioned debate, the amendment was approved 101-29, winning one more vote than the 100 necessary for approval of a constitutional amendment. Speaker Tom Craddick, who rarely votes, cast a ballot for the proposal, and eight other House members abstained.
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"This amendment is blowing smoke to fuel the hell-fire flames of bigotry," said Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston.
Thompson, 66, an African-American who grew up with segregation, said the legislation reminded her of the time when interracial marriages were illegal.
"When people of my color used to marry someone of Mr. Chisum's color (white), you'd often find people of my color hanging from a tree. That's what white people back then did to protect marriage," Thompson said.

source: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3152946
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Dallas Morning News Letters to the Editor

Well, now, picture this
I was disheartened Tuesday to read the headline, "House bans gay unions," given that our legislators still haven't solved school finance or how many children should receive health coverage.
But the photograph next to that headline of President Bush and Crown Prince Abdullah holding hands while strolling through a field of bluebonnets (in a completely heterosexual way, of course) had me laughing all day.
Kudos to The Dallas Morning News for the juxtaposition – and to President Bush for showing his softer side.
Vivek Patel, Dallas

Let's just outlaw gays
Forget the war on terrorism, it seems like we are waging war on homosexuals. First, they cannot get married. Second, they cannot be foster parents. And lately, they are fired from their jobs for being homosexuals.
Why don't we just make being homosexual against the law? We can have separate water fountains and restrooms just for them, so the rest of us don't get AIDS. Make them sit at the back of the bus. Make them shop at "homosexual only" stores, so we don't have to mingle with them.
After all, their homosexuality might rub off on us.
This would spare every homophobic, bigoted public official from coming up with law after law to further stigmatize them and ostracize them from society.
Gilbert Solis, Garland

source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/letters/stories/042905dnedifriletters.5802e818.html