TEXAS: State Issues Amended Death Certificate For Husband Of Gay Man

The Houston Chronicle reports:

Facing possible contempt and a court order, Texas officials have now changed the death certificate of a gay man to add his husband as the surviving spouse. The Department of State Health Services "has issued an amendment to the death certificate for James Stone-Hoskins. It now lists John Allen Stone-Hoskins V as his spouse," a department spokeswoman said in an email Thursday night. "The amended death certificate was issued this evening as ordered by the U.S. District Court and requested by John Stone-Hoskins." The department had refused to change it after John Stone-Hoskins, 37, of Conroe tried to get the state to make the amendment following the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling on June 26 that said gay marriage is legal in all 50 states. He married James Stone-Hoskins in New Mexico in 2014 after being together for 10 years. James Stone-Hoskins died in January at 32.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is due in court next week to face potential contempt charges over the state's earlier refusal to issue the correct death certificate. (Tipped by JMG reader Mike)

TEXAS: AG Ken Paxton Ordered To Appear In Court Over Marriage Recognition

The San Antonio Express-News reports:

U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia has ordered Texas officials to appear in court next week to determine if the state should be held in contempt for failing to recognize same-sex marriage. Garcia issued the order Wednesday in response to a request from a Conroe police officer who says the Texas Department of Health and Human Services refused to amend his spouse’s death certificate to reflect he was married. The death certificate lists him as single. Garcia instructed the state on Wednesday to immediately amend the death certificate of James Stone-Hoskins to add John Allen Stone-Hoskins as the surviving spouse. John Stone-Hoskins, a former police officer who lives in Conroe and is dying from cancer, asked Garcia to hold the department and the Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in contempt. Garcia ordered Paxton to appear before this Court next Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Paxton was arrested and booked on multiple felony securities fraud charges on Monday.

TEXAS: Fifth Circuit Court Of Appeals Slaps Down State's Voter ID Law

The Dallas Morning News reports:

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that Texas’ voter ID law violates the Voting Rights Act — but it also said the law is not a “poll tax.” In an unanimous decision, a three-judge panel ruled that the controversial and Republican-backed measure violated Section 2 of the landmark civil rights law. The law has been part of a complicated legal battle for years. But the victory was narrow win for opponents of the law. The judges also rejected a previous judge’s ruling that the law was passed with the intent to discriminate. The Fifth Circuit sent that portion of the lawsuit back to a U.S. district court. The court wrote that, if the lower court finds in its review of the case that the voter ID Law only violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, it should find a solution that can still reduce the risk of in-person voter fraud and satisfy the legislative intent of the voter ID law.

The state is likely to request review before the full Fifth Circuit or appeal directly to SCOTUS.

HOUSTON: Anti-Gay Pastors Sue Mayor

Via Houston's CBS affiliate:

A group of pastors fighting Houston's equal rights ordinance has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Annise Parker, claiming she tried to deny voters' rights and intimidate clergymen opposing her. The legal action comes at the beginning of what's likely to be a passionate campaign leading up to a referendum on the ordinance in November. "She violated and trampled the voting rights of over a million people in the fourth largest city in the United States of America," said Andy Taylor, the attorney representing the clergymen, at a news conference with his clients. "Are you with me? Can you believe it? Is that what happened?" The clergymen who filed the suit have fought the ordinance from the beginning, focusing on its protections for gay and transgendered people. They're among the leaders of a petition drive that called for a referendum to repeal the ordinance.

Last month the Texas Supreme Court ruled that Houston must either repeal its LGBT rights ordinance or place it to a public vote. Parker has vowed to win at the polls.

RELATED: Next month the above-pictured pastors will take part in an anti-gay forum titled The Texas Response.

Texas AG Ken Paxton Smirks For Mugshot After Arrest On Multiple Felony Charges

Anti-gay Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was today arrested and booked on the three felony securities fraud charges announced on Friday. He was released on bond shortly afterwards.

Around noon, the grand jury indictment against Paxton was unsealed, revealing that two first-degree fraud charges were based on Paxton’s efforts in July 2011 — when he was a member of the Texas House — to sell stock on behalf of Servergy Inc., a McKinney-based tech company. According to the indictment, Paxton failed to tell stock buyers — including state Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, and Florida businessman Joel Hochberg, who were listed as complainants on the fraud charges — that he had been compensated with 100,000 shares of Servergy stock. Paxton also said he was an investor in Servergy when he was not, the charges indicated. Paxton encouraged investors, including Texas House members, to put more than $600,000 into Servergy, special prosecutor Kent Schaffer told the New York Times last week.

Democrats are calling for Paxton's resignation. The Texas GOP has issued a statement which declares that Paxton is entitled to his day in court. (Tipped by JMG reader Charles)

TEXAS: Anti-Gay AG Ken Paxton Indicted On Multiple Counts Of Securities Fraud

Via the New York Times:

Ken Paxton, the Republican attorney general of Texas and a former state legislator, has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of securities fraud and of failing to register with the state securities board, officials said. The grand jury in the northern Dallas suburb of McKinney handed up a three-count indictment against Mr. Paxton on Tuesday, the officials said. The indictment is to be unsealed on Monday, when Mr. Paxton is expected to turn himself in to the authorities at the Collin County Jail. The charges — two counts of first-degree securities fraud and one count of third-degree failure to register — are tied to Mr. Paxton’s work soliciting clients and investors for two companies while he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, before he was elected attorney general in November.

RELATED: Several days after the Obergefell ruling, Paxton declared that county clerks were allowed to refuse to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

Headline Of The Day

Details. (Tipped by JMG reader David)

TEXAS: State Refuses To Issue Death Certificates Recognizing Gay Marriages

Via Houston's CBS affiliate:

More than a month after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage, Texas is not fully recognizing the landmark ruling and refuses to issue death certificates that recognize same-sex marriages. "It looks to me like we're headed back to federal court," said widower John Stone-Hoskins, 36. He plans to file a lawsuit against the state on Monday, asking a judge to force Texas to let him change his late spouse's death certificate to reflect their marriage. "We want to make sure in his lifetime his marriage to James [Stone] is recognized. He deserves that much," said Neel Lane, attorney with Akin Gump, LLP.

Hoskins and Stone exchanged vows in New Mexico last August. But by mid-January, after a diagnosis with a genetic autoimmune disease called Sjögren's syndrome, James, 32, decided to take his own life. "As you can see here, the marriage certificate is nice and framed," said Stone-Hoskins. "The death certificate totally dismisses the fact that we were ever married." Hoskins, who lives in Conroe, said that's what hurts. James' Texas death certificate lists him as single and refers to John as "significant other," meaning he is not entitled to his spouse's estate.

A video report is at the link.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker: We'll Take This To The Voters And We'll Win

"Obviously, I am disappointed and believe the court is in error with this eleventh hour ruling in a case that had already been decided by a judge and jury of citizens. Nonetheless, we will proceed with the steps necessary for City Council to consider the issue. At the same time, we are consulting with our outside counsel on any possible available legal actions. Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance is similar to measures passed by every other major city in the country and by most local corporations. No matter the color of your skin, your age, gender, physical limitations, or sexual orientation, every Houstonian deserves the right to be treated equally. To do otherwise, hurts Houston’s well-known image as a city that is tolerant, accepting, inclusive and embracing of its diversity. Our citizens fully support and understand this and I have never been afraid to take it to the voters. We will win!" - Houston Mayor Annise Parker, via press release.

TEXAS: Haters Celebrate Houston Ruling

Much praising of God is taking place.

BREAKING: Texas Supreme Court Rules Houston Must Repeal LGBT Rights Law Or Place It To Public Vote In November

Via the Houston Chronicle:

The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that Houston City Council must repeal the city's equal rights ordinance or place it on the November ballot. The ruling comes three months after a state district judge ruled that opponents of Houston's contentious non-discrimination ordinance passed last year failed to gather enough valid signatures to force a repeal referendum. "We agree with the Relators that the City Secretary certified their petition and thereby invoked the City Council's ministerial duty to reconsider and repeal the ordinance or submit it to popular vote," the Texas Supreme Court wrote in a per curiam opinion. "The legislative power reserved to the people of Houston is not being honored." Houston City Council has 30 days to repeal the ordinance or place it on the November ballot.

Stand by for celebrations from the usual haters.

RELATED: LGBT rights laws similar to Houston's already exist in other major Texas municipalities including Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, Dallas County, Fort Worth, El Paso, Plano, San Antonio, Waco, and Walker County.

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!"

Man Booted Off Flight After Confronting Texas Governor On Marriage Stance

Via the Austin American-Statesman:

As he was waiting with family and staff to board a flight back to Austin on Tuesday night after two days promoting Texas in New York City, Gov. Greg Abbott was approached by another passenger who shook his hand and then loudly and profanely expressed his unhappiness with the governor’s opposition to gay marriage. “I hope you … go to hell because of your stance on gay marriage,” the man told the governor, using an epithet for emphasis, according to Abbott communications director Matt Hirsch, who was with the governor. The man, identified only as a 32-year-old male by Port Authority police, was asked to step back by Texas state troopers traveling with the governor.

As he walked away, Hirsch said the man, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, directed a parting shot at the governor: “I’m going to see you on the plane.” As it happened, he didn’t. After the tense scene — which was loud enough to be apparent to the crowd of passengers awaiting Jet Blue’s last flight of the day from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport — Jet Blue security told the man he wouldn’t be flying back to Austin on Tuesday night but would be put on the first flight back Wednesday morning. He was given a hotel room for the night, Hirsch said

The passenger was not arrested. Abbott later expressed his gratitude to airport officials.

TEXAS: New Anti-LGBT Group Launches

Via the Texas Observer:

Spewing hateful rhetoric, a group of anti-LGBT leaders gathered in Dallas on Tuesday to launch a new coalition to fight the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of same-sex marriage. Their speeches were glaringly light on details, but they said the new grassroots movement called “REAL MARRIAGE: One Man/One Woman For Life,” will target unnamed businesses and politicians who don’t stand up against LGBT rights.

An email announcing the news conference pledged “mass civil disobedience”—and speakers made mention of marches and protests—but for now the group doesn’t appear to have much more than a website. Unless you count fiery but familiar anti-gay sound bites.

“If we redefine marriage, the homosexual political movement will force churches, schools, families, businesses and individuals to accept, to affirm, and even to celebrate those who participate in anal sex, or anal sodomy,” said Dr. Steven Hotze, president of the Conservative Republicans of Texas. “It will be mandated to be taught to the children in the schools, at an early age, starting in kindergarten. They will be encouraged by their teachers to participate in anal sex.”

The launch announcement was held at the office of crackpot David Pickup, who was represented by the Liberty Counsel in one of its countless battles against bans on ex-gay torture.

Texas Judge To Gay Couples: I'll Marry You But First Sign This Here Statement About How Much I Totally Hate You

Via Wonkette:

Ya see, the judge knows that technically, gays can do marriage to each other, so technically, as a justice of the peace who performs weddings, he has no choice but to do the gay kind now, UGH, unless he’s willing to quit his job altogether, which apparently he’s not. Not yet, anyway. But even if the law requires him to gay marry The Gays, it does not require him to like it. So he will no longer permit photography or video during wedding ceremonies, because, as a conservative Catholic, he knows Jesus hated assless tuxedos. (That’s what gays wear when they get married, right?)

Also, too, if you are the kind of The Gays who insist upon forcing this nice judicial fella to marry you against his will, you must acknowledge, in writing, that the Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges “has not changed Judge DePiazza’s personal convictions on marriage,” and that he “prefers to NOT conduct same-sex ceremonies, but will not decline anyone who chooses to schedule with him.” How big of him! Should you still decide to include the judge in your special special gay day, you must sign his form that you fully understand how much he does NOT like your same-sexing, not one bit.

More from the Houston Chronicle:

"It's to let them know where I stand. I would want to know that if I was getting married," he said. "There are some couples of the same sex who don't want to be married by someone who doesn't believe in same sex marriage." The document also has couples acknowledge that their ceremony will be "a brief formal declaration of civil marriage," not the traditional marriage. It also prohibits photography of the ceremony, instead saying couples can use the courtroom to take pictures after their ceremony. "I decided that for my own privacy," DePiazza said. "Because people take pictures and can doctor them or take little snippets out of video to warp what happened."

It would be a terrible shame if people started doctoring photos of the judge anyway. That would be just horrible.

TEXAS: Hate Group Denounces "Frivolous" Lawsuit Filed Against County Clerk

Via press release from Texas Values:

It has come to our attention that a same-sex ‘marriage’ license has been issued in Hood County, Texas. However, we are also aware of false reports that County Clerk Katie Lang “gives in” and did an “about face” and issued and signed the license herself. As seen in the attached link, Deputy County Clerk Kristi Jackson signed the same sex marriage license, not Katie Lang. Our view is that County Clerk Katie Lang has maintained her position regarding her sincerely held religious beliefs as she clearly stated last week, that other staff members in the clerk’s office would issue same sex marriage licenses, which is what happened today. Therefore, the lawsuit filed today by a homosexual couple is frivolous and is simply being maintained to punish Katie Lang for exercising her religious beliefs and to request money for lawyers.

Lang is being defended by the Plano-based Liberty Institute.

TEXAS: Irion County Clerk Won't Issue Licenses, Liberty Counsel To Defend

Via press release from the Liberty Counsel:

Citing the Constitution and natural law, elected clerk for Irion County, Texas, Molly Crimer has vowed to stand for natural marriage. Referring to the opinion of five lawyers regarding marriage, Crimer said: “To keep my oath to uphold the Constitution, I must reject this ruling that I believe is lawless….I have to stand for the Constitution and the rule of law.” Liberty Counsel is offering Ms. Crimer pro bono counsel. “The Justices of the Supreme Court acted outside and against the authority granted to them by the very Constitution that we have sworn to uphold,” Molly Crimer continued. “[O]ur founding fathers were fearful of too much power in the hands of a few,” Crimer continued. “Consequently, they created a Constitutional Republic in which authority to rule belonged to the PEOPLE, to be exercised through their elected representatives. In that Constitution, the Supreme Court was given the authority to expound the law, not rewrite it or remake it,” Crimer said.

The clerk's lengthy declaration is here. Irion County has a population of 1600 and there have been no requests for same-sex marriage licenses.

TEXAS: State Rep. Cecil Bell Calls On State Agencies To Defy Obergefell

Texas state Rep. Cecil Bell is at it again:

At a press conference in Magnolia, Bell released his “PACT for the Constitutional Restoration of State Sovereignty,” essentially a manifesto listing broad ways for citizens and state and federal officials to come together and defy the Supreme Court ruling. Citizens should pressure elected officials to stop enforcing the ruling, and Congress should take action to impeach the five justices who voted to end state bans on gay marriage, Bell said. “Our governors should join together in rejecting the striking down of state sovereignty,” Bell said in the announcement, “and should form a coalition standing between an overreaching federal government and the citizens of the separate states.” Bell's initiative didn’t include any specific actions for how state officials should resist court rulings, saying that would be determined by state agencies. States resisting Supreme Court rulings — and even the impeachment of justices — have precedent in U.S. history, Bell said, noting Justice Samuel Chase who was impeached in 1804 because some in the U.S. House of Representatives felt his political views were influencing his decisions. He was acquitted by the Senate the following year.

His nutjob pact is here.

TEXAS: Hood County Clerk Caves, Issues Marriage License To Gay Couple, Couple Won't Drop Their Lawsuit

Bloomberg reports:

A gay couple that sued a rural Texas county clerk over a delay in the issuing of a marriage license received the certificate just hours after filing the complaint. Jim Cato and Joe Stapleton say they won’t drop their lawsuit though until the clerk’s office agrees to issue marriage licenses to “all couples, gay and straight, without delay.” They also want their legal fees paid by the county. Cato and Stapleton were repeatedly turned away last week by the clerk’s office in Hood County, about a half-hour southwest of the Fort Worth federal courthouse where they sued Monday. They said they were told it would take “at least three weeks,” because the county needed to have paperwork reprinted in a gender-neutral fashion.

The men said they have been “waiting over 27 years to marry” and were “humiliated” by county employees’ refusal. Katie Lang, the county clerk, had said she won’t personally issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because it violates her religious beliefs. She said someone else in her office would do so as soon as proper forms are supplied, according to a statement on the county clerk’s website. The couple’s lawyer said he provided the clerk with copies of corrected state marriage-license applications from the state’s website. They were told a different form was still needed, according to the complaint.

Today's marriage license was hand-written.

RELATED: Last week Texas Values and local haters rallied in support of the clerk.

TEXAS: Haters Rally For County Clerk Who Won't Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses