State will not have final say

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments next month on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage, and whether states have the right to ban such unions.

Some legislators in Texas, whose citizens 10 years ago voted overwhelmingly to define marriage as a “union between one man and one woman,” are vowing to defy the high court should it rule that banning gay marriage is unconstitutional.

Demonstrators in Austin Wednesday urged lawmakers to stand up for “Biblical” marriage, something state Rep. Cecil Bell Jr., R-Magnolia, is doing with his bill, the Preservation of Sovereignty and Marriage Act.

The legislation proclaims that “no state or local governmental employee may be compelled to recognize a marriage or grant or enforce a marriage license that violates a personal religious belief.”

It declares that local and state funds cannot be used to license, register, certify or support a marriage not defined by the state.

Obviously the Supreme Court ruling will become the law of the land, and no defiant state legislation can overrule it.

This story was originally published March 26, 2015 at 6:02 PM with the headline "State will not have final say."