63 Texas lawmakers compare same-sex marriage to incest, pedophilia, polygamy

AUSTIN, Texas — More than 60 Texas lawmakers have signed on to a legal brief comparing same-sex marriage to incest, pedophilia, and polygamy.

Lone Star Q reports that 63 legislators — members of the Texas Conservative Coalition — signed the brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Firth Circuit to uphold Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage.

The brief comes in support of the state’s appeal of a February 26 ruling that declared the ban unconstitutional.

Among the signatories are Sen. Dan Patrick, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, and Sen. Ken Paxton, the GOP nominee for attorney general.

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Last week, Texas Attorney General and the Republican nominee for governor Greg Abbott filed his appeal, asserting the ban on same-sex marriage allows the state to promote the birth and upbringing of children in “stable, lasting relationships,” and is in the best interest of children.

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In Monday’s brief, the Texas Conservative Coalition said that “if the right to select ‘partners of their choosing’ is the criterion used to invoke marriage as a fundamental right, then marriage restrictions on age, polygamy, and consanguinity are also ripe for challenge.”

The lawmakers said the District Court ruling striking down the ban dismissed claims that same-sex marriage “could lead to the recognition of bigamy, incest, pedophilia, and group marriage.”

A list of the 63 lawmakers who signed the brief is here.

The Fifth Circuit has not yet scheduled to hear arguments in the appeal.

The case is De Leon v. Perry.