Friday, February 20, 2015

Texas: Attorney General Seeks to "Void" Marriage License Of Lesbian Cancer Patient


Yesterday, Suzanne Bryant and Sarah Goodfriend became the first legally married same-sex couple in Texas. But now, Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking the state's Supreme Court to declare the couple's marriage "void."

Via the Advocate:

"The rogue actions of Travis County judges do not withstand the scrutiny of law," Paxton said in a statement. "The same-sex marriage license issued yesterday is not valid because it conflicts with the Texas Constitution and State law — the license is therefore void ab initio. The filing we made today with the Texas Supreme Court confirms these points."

After a state-level judge in Travis County, which includes the state capital of Austin, found Texas's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional Wednesday, Bryant and Goodfriend asked another local judge to consider their emergency request for a marriage license to be issued to the mothers of two, citing Goodfriend's ongoing battle with ovarian cancer.

Thursday morning, state District Judge David Wahlberg granted the couple's request, and they were married immediately outside the Travis County courthouse. Wahlberg's ruling directly ordered Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir to issue a marriage license to Goodfriend and Bryant only, not to other same-sex couples.

Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir disagrees with Paxton, saying the marriage license as issued is valid.

The couple has been together more than 30 years.

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