Judge Tonya Parker is standing up for gay rights in Texas. She is the first openly gay African-American elected official in Texas history, and she is not wedding any couples until marriage equality is a reality in the state.
She looks at every couple looking to be wed as an opportunity to raise awareness and take a stand about LGBT equality. She always tells them why she is turning them away -- it's not fair to offer a service to one group of people that is not available to an other.
Although she has the power to marry couples, it's not an official duty in her job description -- she is still very much doing her job. Those who want to wed are sent to other judges for marriage ceremonies.
Texas has a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between one man and one woman that was passed in 2005.
Stand with Tonya Parker and the LGBT community and support marriage equality in Texas! Everyone deserves equal rights!
