Judge: “No Fundamental Right” to Redefine Marriage

A federal judge in Louisiana has upheld its state’s marriage laws defining marriage as between one man and one woman. The decision follows closely a judge upholding Tennessee’s marriage laws and the U.S. Supreme Court halting the redefinition of marriage in Virginia, staying an appeals court ruling that struck down Virginia’s marriage laws. The decision is expected to be appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals which also has before it the federal court decision from Texas that struck down Texas marriage laws earlier this year. In the strong ruling, Judge Martin L.C. Feldman found that “Louisiana’s decision to neither permit nor recognize same-sex marriage, formed in the arena of the democratic process, is supported by a rational basis.” Judge Feldman further explained “there is simply no fundamental right, historically or traditionally, to same-sex marriage.”

This common sense ruling protecting marriage upholds the will of the people and upholds what the U.S. Supreme Court told us last year in the Windsor decision; states have the absolute right to define marriage as one man, one woman. The lawless and rogue streak of legislating from the bench on marriage has been broken, and rightly so. The Federal government and activist judges have no authority to redefine marriage in Louisiana, Texas, or any other state. Other federal judges that have ruled against such voter-approved laws on marriage are simply making up their own law as they go and thumbing their nose at the American people and our highest court. Read more.

An Austin federal court judge has struck down portions of the Pro-Life Omnibus Law, HB 2, as unconstitutional. Specifically the judge struck down the provision that requires abortion facilities to meet the same safety requirements that other surgical centers in Texas are already required to meet and the requirement that abortionists have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, specific to two clinics. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has quickly sought an appeal at the Fifth Circuit to protect women with the common sense safety measures included in HB 2.

This new attack comes on the heels of the Fifth Circuit already upholding two provisions of HB 2 earlier this year after the same federal judge had struck them down. As Texas Values president Jonathan Saenz told the LA Times, “Efforts by pro-abortion advocates in the past to stall the implementation of these common-sense laws that look to protect the health and safety of women have been stopped by the 5th Circuit. This will not be the end of this issue by a long shot.” Read more.

SD 28 Special Election Voters Guide

Early voting is underway in the September 9 Special Election for Texas State Senate District 28 (SD 28). Early voting runs through this Friday, September 5. The special election will fill the seat vacated by Senator Robert Duncan. If you live in SD 28, which includes Lubbock, San Angelo, and over 50 counties in West Texas, check out the Texas Values Action Voters Guide for the SD 28 Special Election at FreeVotersGuide.com and view where all the candidates in the race stand on the issues. View the guide.

The Family Project from Focus on the Family

Why do families work? Because God Himself designed them! Thriving families will lead to thriving communities, and thriving communities will transform the world. Focus on the Family’s Family Project is a 12 session DVD experience for couples or small groups that explores the theological, philosophical, and cultural underpinnings of the traditional family, and combines that information with inspiring stories and practical tools to help 21st-century families thrive. Texas Values is the state Family Policy Council associated with Focus on the Family. Learn about the project.