Democrats, Minorities Overwhelmingly Backed Marriage Amendment in Texas

Just days after voters in Texas passed a constitutional ban on so-called “gay marriage,” the Houston Chronicle reported that the sweeping support for defining the traditional family cut across the entire political spectrum. The newspaper reported that all types of voters backed the pro-family measure, indicating that the marriage amendment’s appeal was not limited to any certain demographic or voting bloc. The Texas marriage amendment, known as “Proposition 2,” won state-wide, with 76% of Texans casting a positive vote.

According to conventional political wisdom, minority voters like blacks and Hispanics tend to support Democrat politicians who often undermine pro-family causes. However, voters in minority precincts rejected the pro-homosexual position of those same liberal politicians, voting instead to secure the Biblical definition of marriage in the state constitution.

Not surprisingly, churches played a significant role in the marriage amendment victory. Several churches and parachurch organizations worked to turn out pro-marriage voters on election day. The Texas Restoration Project, for example, was formed to work toward “restoring the state’s religious heritage.” The group worked with pastors throughout Texas to educate church members as part of a statewide event called “Reclaiming Texas Sunday” – – just two days before the election in 2005. That event is credited with motivating thousands of churchgoers and clergy to go vote for traditional marriage on election day.

Texas voter turnout in 2005 was the highest in any election of its kind since 1991, with about 18% of registered Texas voters participating. One pro-family leader attributed the large turnout to a backlash against judicial activism. Family Policy Network of Texas state director Danny Eason said, “It’s what the majority of the people want. For so long now, they’ve been bogged down by what the activist judges are deciding and when they finally had a chance to voice their opinion, they voiced it and voiced it loudly.”

Political experts in Texas note the marriage amendment passed in big cities largely due to strong support from blacks in precincts that typically elect Democrat politicians. According to the Chronicle, Southwestern University political science professor Tim O’Neill said “African-Americans are by far the strongest supporters of the Democratic Party, but not on this issue. This is not a Republican/Democratic issue per se.”

Texas Eagle Forum president Cathie Adams added, “This wasn’t about being a Republican or a Democrat. It’s about shielding the time-honored biblical institution of marriage from attack by activist judges. Maybe some of the liberal lawmakers in Austin will see their constituents’ support for marriage as a wake-up call to start defending family values at the state capitol.”

The Chronicle reported widespread support for marriage among minorities was evident in the counties along the border of the US and Mexico. The amendment passed by 81 percent in Hidalgo County, 75 percent in Webb County and 86 percent in Jim Hogg County – – which are all counties that are heavily populated with Democratic, Hispanic voters. Statewide, the marriage amendment passed with 76 percent of the vote.

FPN’s Eason noted the growing strength of the Texas pro-family movement by comparing the rapid marriage amendment victory to the long-fought battle simply to pass a statutory proposal to protect marriage in the state legislature. He said, “Look at how long it took for us to pass the Defense of Marriage Act in Austin, compared to how quickly we changed the state constitution.” He added, “Regardless of what legislators may have been thinking before now, it shows how much the voters are opposed to the homosexual agenda in our state.”.

FPN President Joe Glover agrees. He said, “Pro-homosexual politicians in Texas had better watch out. If they were under any delusions about voters wanting the law to protect and promote immoral behavior, Proposition 2 should straighten them out.” He said Democrats and Republicans alike could learn from the marriage amendment’s success.

Glover noted, “Regardless of your party affiliation, the political lesson is ‘RIGHT makes might’ when it comes to traditional values. Lawmakers in Austin who miss that lesson may do so to their own peril.”