Texas Judge Dianne Hensely refuses to marry homosexuals on religious grounds

The left would like every American to accept their narrative that same-sex marriage is a done deal and has been fully embraced throughout society. Of course, that narrative is nonsense. A strong majority of voters made their views on same-sex marriage quite clear by going to the polls to ensure that marriage remained the union of one man and one woman. Even after the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v Hodges imposing gay ‘marriage’ on the nation, a majority of Americans still believe in traditional marriage. Further, there is overwhelming public support for the concept that no American should be forced to participate in a same-sex ceremony against their deeply held beliefs.

In Waco, TX Judge Dianne Hensely has been admonished by the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct that she must officiate same-sex ‘weddings.’ Hensely is a devout Christian who according to media reports maintains that her Christian conscience and beliefs will not allow her to perform same-sex ‘weddings.’ She has declined to participate in gay marriages since at least August 2016, though she performs weddings for opposite-sex couples. Other judges in her area also oppose gay ‘marriage’ and their response has been to refuse to perform any weddings to avoid being accused of “discrimination.”

Judge Hensely believes that she is entitled to a “religious exemption” to marrying same-sex couples, and she is right. When the US Supreme Court issued their infamous 5-4 decision in Obergefell, Anthony Kennedy assured the nation that people of faith would be able to continue to consider gay ‘marriage’ to be illegitimate. Moreover, the free exercise of religion clause of the first amendment to the US Constitution provides that no law may restrict a person’s exercise of religion. Regardless, LGBT advocates use every lever of power that they can exert to deny people their constitutional right to exercise their religious beliefs when it comes to same-sex ‘marriage.’

On Tuesday, a McLennan County Justice of the Peace defended her choice not to perform wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples, citing her Christian beliefs.
When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage nationwide, Judge Dianne Hensley, who has the option of performing marriages, said she stopped doing the ceremonies for all couples.
However, she said since August of 2016, she started doing them again but only for opposite-sex couples, performing at least 70 of them. 
According to Hensley, she doesn’t believe she is breaking the law because she is protected under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
She added it is a possibility that someone would file a lawsuit against her.
"In the United States, anybody can sue anybody for anything. I hope not. I'm not looking for that. I have no desire to offend anybody but the last person I want to offend is God,” Hensley said.

We commend Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for withdrawing the nomination of two judges to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct when the warning to Judge Hensely was announced. While this is a great step, it does not go far enough. We call upon the state of Texas to enact legislation protecting judges and others from having to participate in a same-sex ceremony that violates their religious beliefs.

We commend Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for withdrawing the nomination of two judges to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct when the warning to Judge Hensely was announced. While this is a great step, it does not go far enough. We call upon the state of Texas to enact legislation protecting judges and others from having to participate in a same-sex ceremony that violates their religious beliefs.

It’s worth noting that this judicial attack in Texas on Judge Hensley and her Christian beliefs would be much worse if the grossly-misnamed “Equality Act” were to ever become law. It seeks to make an action in support of traditional marriage illegal discrimination as a “sex stereotype.” Defeating this legislation is our top priority.