The Texas Response

"We invite all Texans to join us as we celebrate and fully explain the new Pastor Protection law & discuss the Supreme Court’s marriage decision. We will also talk about the impact of the Court’s decision on religious freedom and free speech & share what YOU can do to make a difference!"

Local Pastors Have The Houston Sadz

"The ruling that the coalition fell 585 signatures short was a result of Judge Schaffer, who was supported in his election by the LGBT community, unfortunately accepting the constantly changing manipulations of the law by the City’s legal machine and Mayor’s team. We will not yield the safety and welfare, the voting rights and Constitutional freedoms of the citizens that have been stolen by the corrupt Parker regime. The law and the appellate courts in Texas are very strong in preserving voting rights so we are confident we will prevail. The fact that the city’s own numbers of how many valid signatures we had submitted materially changed nearly a dozen times since August illustrates how desperate they are to keep this off the ballot. The No UNequal Rights Coalition leadership confirmed they will review the decision in depth with their attorney and if needed to appeal the judge’s decision all the way to final determination by the Texas Supreme Court." - Houston Area Pastor Council, via press release.

Quote Of The Day - Dave Welch

"[Houston] City Attorney David Feldman did not have the legal authority to intervene with the validation and acted as judge, jury, and executioner by declaring 2,750 entire petitions invalid due to his claim of technical problems. The fact that a very diverse pastor-led coalition, in only 30 days, produced over 55,000 signatures in this historic effort makes it crystal clear that Houston citizens do not want our fundamental right of conscience stolen. We will win this battle. This is not an Alamo moment. It is a San Jacinto moment in protecting our families and freedom against liberal tyranny.” - Houston Area Pastors Council leader Dave Welch, referring to the 1836 battle in which the Texas Army slaughtered 630 Mexicans in 18 minutes. (Tipped by JMG reader Erik)

RELATED: Welch has called Houston Mayor Annise Parker "a cancer on the soul of the people" and has compared President Obama to Hitler. According to Welch, gay people are "morally depraved" and possessed by "the forces of spiritual darkness." Last year Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who is running for governor, accepted an award from Welch's group.