DOMA Talking Points

Legal/Political Reasons for Supporting DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act):

Texans have the right to decide what Texas marriage law will be. The Defense of Marriage Act affirms the right of Texans alone to decide the proper definition of marriage in their state.

Failure to pass the Defense of Marriage Act will allow out of state judges to decide what Texas marriage law should be.

Thirty-five states and the federal government have already passed the Defense of Marriage Act. Texas should have the protection offered by the Defense of Marriage Act as well.

The people of Texas are saying that marriage should be between one man and one woman. This strong belief is reflected in Texas marriage law, which defines marriage a being between one man and one woman. The Defense of Marriage Act will allow Texans to continue to decide what their marriage law will be. 

Cultural Reasons for Supporting DOMA:

The Family is the bedrock institution upon which American society and culture are based. Strong, stable families are essential to the maintenance of our Democratic Republic because families are the primary transmitters of values, customs, and social mores from one generation to the next.

The traditional one-man, one-woman model for marriage is superior for engaging in the procreation and nurturing of children. Same-sex unions cannot produce children, and are demonstrably inferior and potentially harmful to the development of children. 

Expanding the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples blurs the meaning of marriage, and invites those practicing polygamy, incest, and other forms of deviant sexual behaviors to apply for recognition of their “unions” as well.

Marriage is not exclusively defined by love. Many loving and caring relationships such as those that exist between friends, siblings, extended relatives, co-workers, etc. have no basis in the law. The law protects marriage because of its indispensable reproductive, nurturing, and educational role in society. 

**ACTION ITEM**

The House version of DOMA, HB 496 by Warren Chisum (R-Pampa), has been referred to the House State Affairs Committee. Please contact chairman Steve Wolens and the members of the committee and ask for a timely hearing for HB 496. The members of the State Affairs Committee are listed below:

Chairman:	Austin Phone
Steve Wolens (D-Dallas)	(512) 463-0746
Vice-Chairman:
Sylvester Turner (D-Houston)	(512) 463-0554
Members:
Kevin Bailey (D-Houston)	(512) 463-0924
*Kenneth Brimer (R-Ft. Worth)	(512) 463-0632
**David Counts (D-Knox City)	(512) 463-0480
*Tom Craddick (R-Midland)	(512) 463-0500
Debra Danburg (D-Houston)	(512) 463-0504
Paul Hilbert (R-Spring)	(512) 463-0572
Bob Hunter (R-Abilene)	(512) 463-0718
**Delwin Jones (R-Lubbock)	(512) 463-0542
*John Longoria (D-San Antonio)	(512) 463-0618
*Ken Marchant (R-Coppell)	(512) 463-0468
*Brian McCall (R-Plano)	(512) 463-0594
Ruth McClendon (D-Houston)	(512) 463-0708
*Tommy Merritt (R-Longview)	(512) 463-0750

*Indicates that this member is a co-sponsor
**Indicates that this member is a co-author