The pushback to the controversial Supreme court ruling on gay marriage has begun.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott fired the 1st shot across the bow today when he ordered state agencies to take no action against anyone who refuses to issue a marriage license to gay couples.
Calling the Supreme Court justices “an unelected nine-member legislature,” Abbott wrote in a statement, “Five Justices on the Supreme Court have imposed on the entire country their personal views on an issue that the Constitution and the Court’s previous decisions reserve to the people of the States.”
Abbott then announced his plans to issue a religious freedom directive to all state agencies, saying, “Despite the Supreme Court’s rulings, Texans’ fundamental right to religious liberty remains protected. No Texan is required by the Supreme Court’s decision to act contrary to his or her religious beliefs regarding marriage.”
Abbott continued:
“As I have done in the past, I will continue to defend the religious liberties of all Texans—including those whose conscience dictates that marriage is only the union of one man and one woman. Later today, I will be issuing a directive to state agencies instructing them to prioritize the protection of Texans’ religious liberties.”
Abbott’s directive encompasses all state government agencies and employees.
Read Gov. Abbott’s full directive here.
