Can gay people marry in texas

5 Vital Facts Texas Same-Sex Couples Need to Know As Federal Marriage Rulings Loom

In November, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld same-sex marriage bans in four states (Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee). Prior to this decision, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) declined to weigh in on the subject, because earlier Circuit Court of Appeals’ rulings consistently struck down express laws banning same-sex marriage. Now, with the Circuit Courts in opposing corners, it appears that SCOTUS will be forced to address the issue sooner rather than later.

Uncertainty Awaits Same-Sex Couples in Texas

As a SCOTUS ruling looms on the horizon, the future of the same-sex marriage ban in the state of Texas is making headlines. According to The Texas Observer on December 2, plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit challenging the ban asked U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia the previous week to lift his stay of a February decision that struck down the Texas same-sex marriage ban.

“As the Observer noted, even if Judge Garcia does elevate the February stay, Texas Attor

Marriage Equality FAQ

This content is intended to serve as general information; it is not legal advice nor intended as legal advice.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that the constitutional right to marry extends to same-sex couples. As a result, LGBT Texans now love the freedom to marry in Texas. What does that signify for you?

Do we need a Texas marriage license to earn married in Texas?
Yes.

Where do we get our marriage license?
At any county clerk’s office anywhere in the state.

What do we call for to get one?
You have to appear in person before the county clerk, have a valid ID, fill out the application, and take the oath printed on the application.

What counts as a valid ID?
Driver’s license, passport, Certificate of U.S. Citizenship, Certificate of Naturalization, U.S. Citizen ID Card, Permanent Resident Card, and so on. Contact us for a comprehensive list of valid IDs.

Do I have to be a resident of Texas to get a marriage license?
No.

Do my partner and I have to apply together?
No. Any adult can apply on behalf of an absent applicant

Same-Sex Marriage - Is Gay Marriage Legal in Texas?

Yes! Marriage is % legal, recognized, and welcomed in Texas for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ+) couples. All marriage laws, as well as divorce laws, implement to all individuals in Texas regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

When did same-sex marriage become legal in the U.S.? 

Gay marriage became legal in Texas, and in all 50 states on June 26, , when the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) made its decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.

What Is the Process of Getting Married for LGBT In Texas? 

The process for gay marriage in Texas is exactly the same for gay and LGBT couples as it is for opposite-sex couples. With marriage equality in all 50 states, there is no separate “gay marriage law”. Same-sex marriage is legal in Texas and everywhere in the United States. Getting married in Texas involves: 

  • Obtaining a marriage license from the county you wish to be married in. 
  • Completing a hour waiting period (waivable for military personnel and those who complete a pre-m

    Gay marriage is legal in Texas. A justice who won't wed same-sex couples heads to court anyway

    The Texas Supreme Court is reconsidering the case of a justice of the peace who for years turned away gay couples who wanted to acquire married even after same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide. 

    Oral arguments began Wednesday in the case of Dianne Hensley, a justice of the peace in Waco who was reprimanded by the state’s judicial conduct commission in for presiding over only heterosexual weddings. 

    The new phase of the litigation is the first page in the final chapter of a controversial case that has lingered in the Texas court system – and hung over LGBTQ+ people in the state – for years. It’s yet another legal fight at the intersection of religious freedom and the civil rights of queer and transgender Americans. In recent years, as the makeup of the nation’s highest court has grown more conservative, that fight has only become more pronounced in lower courts across the country.

    Before the justices, Hensley's lawyer argued the commission's sanction of the justice violated the sta