Texas Will Provide Benefits To Same-Sex Spouses

(Image is from the blog of Michelle Thrall.)

Texas Republicans have whined loudly ever since the Supreme Court declared last Friday that marriage was a constitutional right, and therefore could not be denied to same-sex couples. The Governor and Lt. Governor have both declared their opposition to the Supreme Court decision, and the Attorney General issued a legal opinion -- an opinion that has raised a furor in the public.

I think that furor was because many people misunderstood exactly what the opinion said. It was reported that the opinion would allow County Clerk offices to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples on religious freedom grounds. What it actually said was that individual employees could do that -- but went on to say if an office issued opposite-sex couples licenses but refused to do that for same-sex couples, or refused to issue any licenses at all, it could be in legal trouble (and subject to sanctions or fines).

County Clerks across the state understood the opinion, and are already starting to issue licenses to same-sex couples -- and if there are a few hold-outs, they won't last long. In short, Texas will go along with the Supreme Court's ruling. The Republicans just had to engage in one of their favorite pastimes before obeying -- performing a bit of political theater to appease their base

On Monday, there was more evidence of Texas falling in line with the new law. The announcement was made that starting today (Wednesday), the Employee Retirement System (ERS) would begin providing benefits to the same-sex spouses of Texas employees. The ERS is the agency that provides benefits for most employees of the state and retirees. They are to be joined in providing those benefits by the University of Texas system and the Texas A&M University system.

The Republicans don't like it, and they have complained loudly, but Texas will comply with the law.