Wendy Davis calls on Greg Abbott to stop defending same-sex marriage ban

SAN ANTONIO — Sen. Wendy Davis said Thursday that she supports same-sex marriage and that Attorney General Greg Abbott, her presumed general-election opponent in the race for governor, should stop defending the state's ban.

“It's my strong belief that when people love each other and are desirous of creating a committed relationship with each other that they should be allowed to marry, regardless of their sexual orientation,” Davis told the Express-News editorial board.

Davis, D-Fort Worth, said she is “pleased” that the state's constitutional definition of marriage, as being between a man and a woman, is under challenge in federal court.

“I think that what we see happening at the federal level in terms of constitutional interpretations on that provide some hope that it may be found unconstitutional,” she said.

Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis spoke to the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2013. Davis spoke about women's issues, abortion, same-sex marriage, education and transportation funding, the state's rainy day fund and the Texas Enterprise Fund. less Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis spoke to the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2013. Davis spoke about women's issues, abortion, same-sex marriage, education ... more Photo: Kin Man Hui, Kin Man Hui/San An Antonio Expre Photo: Kin Man Hui, Kin Man Hui/San An Antonio Expre Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Wendy Davis calls on Greg Abbott to stop defending same-sex marriage ban 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

The Republican attorney general's office is defending the constitutional provision.

Asked if she would call on him to stop doing so - as she earlier called on Abbott this week to reach a settlement in a state school funding lawsuit - Davis said that “makes perfect sense. We've seen that happen.”

She cited such decisions by Virginia and Nevada.

“Obviously our AG has the capacity to do the same if he chooses to do so,” she said. Asked if she would call on him to do so, she said yes.

Abbott spokesman Matt Hirsch scoffed at Davis' urging.

“Unlike Senator Davis' positions on the issues, the Texas constitution is not subject to change on the latest whims of the day. Senator Davis' comment suggesting the Attorney General not enforce the Constitution mimics an Obama-style approach to government, and Texans deserve better,” Hirsch said.

Davis, asked if she would push to repeal the state constitutional provision on gay marriage if elected governor, said, “I would certainly open up that conversation with the Legislature.

“I think it's important, and I think that people across this country are evolving on that issue and moving in a direction that demonstrates support for it, so I think it is time to re-open that conversation and ask Texans where they are on it to see if that's something that we might change legislatively if it doesn't happen constitutionally,” she said.

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