Austin City Council Endorses Same-Sex Marriage

Vote is symbolic only, same-sex marriage still not recognized in Texas

The Austin City Council has voted to make the capital city of Texas the first in the state to formally endorse the legalization of same-sex marriages.

The Thursday vote was unanimous.

The state of Texas doesn't presently recognize same-sex marriages. State law defines marriage as strictly between a man and a woman.

However, councilmember Sheryl Cole says that although the vote is purely symbolic, "symbolic acts matter."

According to supporting city documents, a 2010 University of Texas survey found that 63 percent of the Texans question support some form of legal civil union for same-sex couples.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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