US: Texas lawmakers compare same-sex marriage to paedophilia and incest in legal brief

Sixty-three Texas lawmakers have signed a legal brief that compares same-sex marriage to paedophilia and incest.

The brief, filed Monday, urges the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the state’s same-sex marriage ban.

The brief states: “If the right to select ‘partners of their choosing’ is the criterion used to invoke marriage as a fundamental right, then marriage restrictions on age, polygamy, and consanguinity are also ripe for challenge.”

The brief also states that same-sex marriage is not a fundamental right and that “homosexuals” are not a protected class under the law.

Late last month, Attorney General Greg Abbott said the state banned gay and lesbian couples from marrying in the interest of ensuring children are born in “stable, lasting relationships.”

In February, a US District Judge ruled that the state’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional.

Attorney General Abbott was accused of deliberately stalling his appeal of the marriage ban ruling last month.

• Dec 01 2023

16 TV stars you grew up watching who later came out as LGBTQ+