The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments Friday in cases involving same-sex marriage bans in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Last February, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ruled the Lone Star state's same sex marriage ban unconstitutional, saying it deprives citizens equal protection under the law. But he also elected to delay the effect of his ruling while the state of Texas appealed. That appeal is now before the 5th Circuit in New Orleans.
On this edition of Houston Matters, we discuss what's being argued before the court, and what it all means for the ongoing legal battle over same sex marriage with Josh Blackman of South Texas College of Law. (NOTE: Houston Public Media's Carrie Feibel is in New Orleans covering today's oral arguments. She'll have reports throughout the day on Houston Public Media News 88.7 FM and at www.houstonpublicmedia.org).
Then, we remember the state's first gay marriage, in 1972, right here in Houston. Edel Howlin will walk us through how Antonio Molina and William "Billie" Ert were licensed to marry here.
Also this hour: A lot can happen in a week. Some of it good. Some of it bad. Some of it downright ugly. When faced with intriguing developments in the week's news, we turn to our rotating panel of "non-experts" to parse The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of it all. On this edition, we’ll turn to Lorís Simón from Literal: Latin American Voices magazine, The Breakfast Klub owner Marcus Davis, and University of St. Thomas College Republicans Chairman Vlad Davidiuk to consider oil below $50 a barrel, Craig Biggio’s Hall of Fame election, and why the name Kirby DeLauter appeared in print – a lot – this week.
And: Houston Matters’ Maggie Martin talks with Dr. Peter Hotez from Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. He’s one of four scientists tapped to serve as U.S. Science Envoys starting next month. The program was created in 2009 as a way to demonstrate the United States’ commitment to science, technology and innovation as tools of diplomacy and economic growth. We’ll learn about the responsibilities he’ll take on in this new role.
