Institution of Marriage
A reader sent in this Molly Ivins column, which quotes African-American Texas State Legislator Senfronia Thompson, from a recent debate about a constitutional amendment offered by Representative Chisum. It ultimately passed the House.

When I was a small girl, white folks used to talk about ‘protecting the institution of marriage’ as well. What they meant was if people of my color tried to marry people of Mr. Chisum’s color, you’d often find the people of my color hanging from a tree. ... Fifty years ago, white folks thought interracial marriages were ‘a threat to the institution of marriage.’

Members, I’m a Christian and a proud Christian. I read the good book and do my best to live by it. I have never read the verse where it says, ‘Gay people can’t marry.’ I have never read the verse where it says, ‘Thou shalt discriminate against those not like me.’ I have never read the verse where it says, ‘Let’s base our public policy on hate and fear and discrimination.’ Christianity to me is love and hope and faith and forgiveness — not hate and discrimination.

I have served in this body a lot of years, and I have seen a lot of promises broken. ... So ... now that blacks and women have equal rights, you turn your hatred to homosexuals, and you still use your misguided reading of the Bible to justify your hatred. You want to pass this ridiculous amendment so you can go home and brag — brag about what? Declare that you saved the people of Texas from what?

From what, indeed.