http://www.mysanantonio.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D87A2R801.htmlThe institution of marriage is in crisis but not because of gays, says a Democratic political consultant who has formed a group to fight passage of a state constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriages.
Threats to marriage are no-fault divorce and domestic violence, said Jason Stanford, whose group is called Practice What You Preach. He said the Legislature should concentrate on laws that would bolster traditional marriages instead of grandstanding on what he sees as a discriminatory amendment that accomplishes nothing.
"That amendment, win or lose, means gay marriage is still illegal in Texas. Win or lose, marriage is still in crisis in Texas," he said. "The question is whether the Texas Legislature is going to quit the hypocrisy and focus on the real problems."
Cathie Adams, president of the Texas Eagle Forum and a top social conservative supporter of the amendment, said she agreed with Stanford on ending easy divorces and reducing domestic violence.
But the definition of marriage is fundamental, and I hope he would change his mind about that," Adams said. While a state law approved last year defines marriage as solely between a man and a woman, a court could theoretically overturn the statute, Adams said. The constitutional amendment is needed because "if we did not have a favorable Supreme Court, we could be in jeopardy of losing the definition of marriage," Adams said.