In response to the ruling in Travis County, the Texas Supreme Court has just issued an order prohibiting county clerks and judges from issuing same-sex marriage licenses:

The Texas Supreme Court stepped in this afternoon and blocked all state judges and county clerks from issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. The emergency action comes following today’s wedding of two women in Austin. The same sex couple convinced a judge to order the Travis County Clerk to issue them a marriage license, after a probate judge in the county earlier this week ruled that the state’s current Constitutional Amendment that makes marriage only between one man and one woman was illegal.

Ok, I know justice delayed is justice denied, but this was actually to be expected. If the federal courts with jurisdiction are going to stay De Leon v. Perry (which they have), then of course the state court is going to stay this decision. While I would hope for more areas allowing marriage for all, I do see the utility in staying rulings pending appeal. Remember, federal courts with jurisdiction here are the ones who struck down the gay marriage ban in the first place. They’re not activist judges or conservative assholes. They’re doing what is often done in cases that are being appealed. Be patient.

The good news is we only have to wait another four months. After years of work, of fighting, of stating the obvious over and over and over again, in all likelihood after June of this year there will be no more rulings, no more stays, no more shenanigans, just equality (and a lot of very put out Christians).