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Appeals court reverses Texas same-sex divorce case

LGBTQ Nation • Wednesday, September 1, 2010 • Filed under: Texas • Comments (0)

A Texas appeals court has ruled same-sex couples legally married in other states can’t get divorced in Texas. The ruling came in the case of a gay Dallas couple who had split up after getting married in Massachusetts in 2006.

In issuing the decision, the appeals court also ruled that the Texas same-sex marriage ban is constitutional.

The ruling from the 5th District Court of Appeals on Tuesday in the case, in the Matter of the Marriage of J.B. and H.B. (as they are identified in court records).

The couple filed for a divorce in Texas in January 2009. Massachusetts, which has allowed same-sex marriage since 2004, has a residency requirement for divorce.

[Equality Texas] issued this statement:

The Fifth District Court of appeals has taken the most extreme, the most conservative view possible on each issue before it. It’s not as if they wanted to just overturn the trial court’s decision, they wanted to smash it into ground and discourage anyone from ever filing a pro-LGBT suit ever again.
The ruling harkens back to a view of the world from generations past — a world where LGBT people were content to live in closets, and were afraid to demand to be treated with dignity and respect. A dignity and respect that this court goes out of its way to completely deny.

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Tarleton University cancels controversial production that depicts gay Jesus

LGBTQ Nation • Friday, March 26, 2010 • Filed under: Texas, Theatre • Comments (1)

Promotional still from 1998 New York production.

Tarleton State University has canceled Saturday’s performance of four student-directed plays, including “Corpus Christi,” the controversial production which portrays Jesus as gay.

In a media release (PDF) posted on it’s website Friday night, Tarleton cited an unnamed professor’s decision to cancel the performances “because of safety and security concerns for the students, as well as the need to maintain an orderly academic environment.”

On Wednesday, we reported that Tarleton, located in Stephenville, Texas, was expecting demonstrations Saturday protesting the student production of “Corpus Christi.”

Critics say the Terrence McNally play, which premiered in 1998 in New York, is blasphemous.

John Jordan Otte, the Tarleton student who was directing the production, said he chose it to help gay youths who may be struggling with their faith.

The release indicated there are no plans to reschedule any of the four canceled plays.

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Student play depicting gay Jesus planned at Texas university

LGBTQ Nation • Wednesday, March 24, 2010 • Filed under: Education, Religion, Texas • Comments (0)

A class project depicting Jesus Christ as gay has hit a nerve in Stephenville, Texas.

Tarleton State University is adding security for expected demonstrations Saturday when students perform the production, called “Corpus Christi.”

The play, by Terrence McNally, opened in New York in the 1990s, and student John Jordan Otte chose the script for his advanced directing class.

Otte said he understood that the play would likely create controversy, but he never imagined this level of anxiety.

He said he wants to convey the turmoil that gay Christians sometimes experience and create a sense of acceptance, tolerance and unconditional love.

The play, which has stirred controversy on campus and in the community, features the Jesus character named Joshua kissing Judas during their prom at Pontius Pilate High School and performing a same-sex marriage for two of his disciples. Continue reading…

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Hundreds march in support of Austin men attacked in alleged hate crime

LGBTQ Nation • Sunday, February 28, 2010 • Filed under: Texas • Comments (0)

Trailing a banner that read “Austin March Against Hate,” hundreds of people walked from a downtown gay bar to City Hall on Saturday to retrace the path of two gay men who were attacked last weekend.

(Photo: Austin American-Statesman)

Emmanuel Winston and Matthew Morgan said they were walking to a City Hall parking garage from Oilcan Harry’s on Feb. 20 when four men followed and assaulted them.

Winston and Morgan said they were wearing jerseys from the “Shady Ladies,” a gay softball league, and that the attackers used slurs about their sexual orientation.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, Police Chief Art Acevedo attended the rally Saturday and said police were still investigating the attack and that it will be up to prosecutors to decide whether there is enough evidence to charge the suspects with a hate crime.

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

City moves forward with prosecution of bar patrons injured in ‘Rainbow Lounge’ raid

LGBTQ Nation • Sunday, February 28, 2010 • Filed under: Texas • Comments (0)

June 28, 2009 raid on the Rainbow Lounge

City prosecutors in Fort Worth have decided to press ahead with criminal charges against at least two patrons of a gay bar who were arrested during a controversial police raid last summer.

Chad Gibson, who received a serious head injury while in custody, and George Armstrong appeared for the first time in Fort Worth Municipal Court, according to KXAS-TV.

Gibson is charged with public intoxication and with assaulting a state agent by allegedly groping him. Armstrong is charged with public intoxication. The intoxication and assault charges are both misdemeanors.
Adam Seidel, the attorney for both men, said his clients were unwilling to accept a plea bargain and asked the case to be set for trial.
He declined to say specifically if prosecutors offered a deal, but said he was surprised they did not drop the charges entirely.
“The city’s message has been, ‘Let’s learn from this and move forward and get past it,’” Seidel said. “That doesn’t seem to be consistent with prosecuting these two victims.”

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Two Austin men say attack was a hate crime

LGBTQ Nation • Wednesday, February 24, 2010 • Filed under: Texas • Comments (0)

Two gay softball players in Austin were assaulted over the weekend in what they are calling a hate crime.

Winston (left) and Morgan

Matthew Morgan and Emmanuel Winston say and were physically attacked by four men yelling anti-gay epithets.

Matthew Morgan and Emmanuel Winston say they were attacked early Saturday morning after they left the gay bar Oil Can Harry’s in their softball uniforms. The two were just a few feet from the City Hall parking garage where their vehicles were parked, when they say they were attacked by four young black men.

“I had noticed that they were following us and listening in on our conversation, but I really didn’t think anything of it,” said Emmanuel Winston. “I really just thought they were just real close right behind us. It really didn’t hit me why they were so close behind us until we were attacked.”

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Texas Attorney General steps in to block same-sex divorce

LGBTQ Nation • Monday, February 15, 2010 • Filed under: Texas • Comments (1)

Abbott

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is trying to stop the divorce of two women in Austin on grounds their Massachusetts marriage is not legally recognized in the Lone Star state.

Last week, a Travis County state district judge granted a divorce in court to Sabina Daly, 41, of San Antonio, and Angelique Naylor, 39, of Austin. Abbott’s aides went to court the following day to block the divorce before the written decree was entered.

According to the Austin American-Statesman:

Abbott spokesman Jerry Strickland said in a statement, “The State maintains that the Court has no legal authority to grant this divorce, and as a result, the State must intervene in this case to defend the Texas Constitution.” Continue reading…

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Houston becomes largest U.S. city with gay mayor as Parker takes oath

LGBTQ Nation • Sunday, January 3, 2010 • Filed under: Texas • Comments (0)

The City of Houston officially has a new mayor as of Saturday.

Annise Parker was sworn in as Mayor of Houston in a private ceremony at City Hall, making Houston the largest U.S. city to ever have an openly gay individual serve as mayor.

With her hand on her grandparents’ bible, held by her partner, Kathy Hubbard, State District Judge Steven Kirkland administered the oath to Mayor Parker.

During inaugural festivities planned for Monday, the new mayor will take the oath again at a public ceremony at 9:30 a.m. at downtown’s Wortham Theater Center.

The City Charter mandates the transfer of power occur on January 2, so Parker opted for a private Saturday morning ceremony followed by a formal public inaugural on Monday to avoid the overtime costs the city would have incurred from having to call in police and other city employees for a weekend inauguration.

Parker becomes the highest-ranking municipal official in the LGBTQ community in the United States.

Parker and her partner have been together since 1990. They have three adopted children.

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Parker appears on CNN following her historic win as Houston’s mayor

LGBTQ Nation • Monday, December 14, 2009 • Filed under: Texas • Comments (0)

Annise-Parker From CNN on Sunday, Annise Parker, the mayor-elect of Houston.

Speaking on her historic win becoming the Houston’s first openly gay mayor, and making Houston the largest U.S. city to ever have an openly gay individual serve as mayor, Parker said:

“I understand that I’m a role model for my community … and I understand that for many people I am a symbol.”

“What I hope that this election signals is something larger than me and the GLBT community. It’s that Houston is a wonderful diverse international city that values people for what they can do more than who they are.”

Here’s the full CNN interview, courtesy Mediaite.com:

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

Parker victorious – Houston becomes largest US city to elect openly gay mayor

LGBTQ Nation • Saturday, December 12, 2009 • Filed under: Politics, Texas • Comments (0)

Annise Parker has been elected mayor of the nation’s 4th largest city, making Houston the largest U.S. city to ever have an openly gay individual serve as mayor.

Parker-victorious Recognizing the significance of her victory to the LGBTQ community nationwide, Parker said, “I acknowledge that. I embrace that.”

“I know what this win means to many of us who never thought we could achieve high office,” she told an energetic crowd of supporters in Houston Saturday night.

In her victory speech, and a message posted on her website Saturday night, Parker added: “This election has changed the world for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, just as this election is about transforming Houstonians’ lives for the better.”

With 100% of precincts reporting, Parker claimed 81,743 votes (53.6%) compared to her opponent Gene Locke, who captured 70,770 votes (46.4%).

A longtime city official, Parker is the current Controller for the city of Houston, a position second only to that of Mayor.

Previously, she served as an at-large member of the Houston City Council since 1997. Parker was victorious in her run for controller in 2003, and ran unopposed in 2005 and 2007.

When she takes office as mayor in January, Parker will be the highest-ranking municipal official in the LGBTQ community in the United States. She replaces Bill White, who is term-limited after serving six years and now seeking the Democratic nomination for governor.

In his concession speech shortly after 10 p.m. CT, Saturday, Locke called on his supporters to stand behind Parker.

“Let’s unite and work together, bringing all people together,” he said. “The future of Houston is great only if its people work together.”

Parker and Locke, both Democrats in the nonpartisan race, made it to Saturday’s run-off election after garnering more votes than two other candidates on November 3.

The contest was marked by fierce campaigning and anti-gay attacks against Parker, including mailers condemning her “homosexual behavior.”

Parker and her partner, Kathy Hubbard, have been together since 1990. They have three adopted children.

Election officials described Saturday’s voter turnout as light; unofficial results show 156,863 voters went to the polls (about 16.4%).

Harris County elections spokesman Hector Deleon said officials had expected about 180,000 voters.

Houston is predominantly Democratic and about 25 percent black and one-third Hispanic. Approximately 60,000 of its 2.2 million residents identify as gay or lesbian.