The Ugliest State Constitution Gets Uglier

Texans yesterday voted to amend--several more times--what is already the sloppiest of state constitutions in the country. Coming in at an amendment number that's off the abacus (but we're well beyond 400) is a firmly-worded definition of marriage meant to foil any future legal attempts by scheming homosexuals to try to destroy the Texan Family by taking a determination to wed one another to court. Gay marriage--and practically every other manifestation you can imagine--is already illegal in Texas; no such unions or anything like them from elsewhere are recognized here. This changes little. It does make clear that 76% of 17% (or about 12%) of Texans are sufficiently frightened by gay people to bother to vote about it.

AUSTIN - Voters overwhelmingly approved writing a ban on same-sex marriage into the Texas constitution Tuesday, giving social conservatives a key victory going into next year's state elections.

The controversial proposition was supported by Gov. Rick Perry and many churches throughout the state.

"That's where the victory was won, from the pulpits of the state of Texas," said state Rep. Warren Chisum, a Pampa Republican who wrote the amendment. "The people of Texas have spoken and they intend that marriage should be between one man and one woman."

Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said the outcome was not unexpected.

"When you put a fundamental right of a minority up for popular vote, it's almost impossible to win," said Foreman. "I'm not sure the right to desegregate schools, the freedom to marry another race or even access to contraception in many states would exist if those issues were put up for a vote."