Houston's Openly Lesbian Mayor Not Surprised By TX Gay Marriage Ruling

DANIEL STRAUSS – FEBRUARY 26, 2014, 5:32 PM EST

The openly lesbian mayor of Houston isn't surprised by a federal judge's ruling that the state's gay marriage ban is unconstitutional. In a statement, Houston Mayor Annise Parker (D) said that the ruling is just another step in the direction Texas is headed.

"This is not a surprise. I have known all along that this is where we are heading in my home state and across the country," Parker said in a statement. "It is one more step in a long quest for equal rights that will end at the Supreme Court. I am pleased to see that this federal judge is following the same line of reasoning that led me to recognize same sex spouses for the purposes of city business."

Parker's statement Wednesday afternoon came U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia found the state's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. Garcia put a stay on the ruling so the ban remains in place for now.

Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) said in response to Garcia's ruling that Texas would begin taking steps to appeal the decision.

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