Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott must stop defending the state's ban on same-sex marriage, says state Sen. Wendy Davis, who is expected to face him in the Lone Star State's gubernatorial race.
“It's my strong belief that when people love each other and are desirous of creating a committed relationship with each other that they should be allowed to marry, regardless of their sexual orientation,” Davis told the
San Antonio Express-News during a meeting with its editorial board.
Davis, a Democrat, says she supports the legal challenge underway against the state's constitutional definition of marriage — which is a union between a man and a woman.
“I think that what we see happening at the federal level in terms of constitutional interpretations on that provide some hope that it may be found unconstitutional,” she said.
She said she is calling on Abbott to stop defending the state law — a challenge blasted by Abbott spokesman Matt Hirsch.
"Unlike Senator Davis' positions on the issues, the Texas Constitution is not subject to change on the latest whims of the day," Hirsch said. "Sen. Davis' comment suggesting the attorney general not enforce the Constitution mimics an Obama-style approach to government, and Texans deserve better."
Davis gained national attention with a filibuster against new abortion restrictions. The restrictions were passed later in a special session of the legislature and
signed by Gov. Rick Perry.