In a very valiant effort to bring equality to Texas, Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-McAllen) filed SB 480 yesterday. SB 480 is, essentially, a legislative effort to legalize civil unions in our state. 

Yesterday, Equality Texas summarized the importance and effect of the bill:

"If enacted, SB 480 would provide some important legal protections for same-gender couples, including property rights, homestead rights, child custody and support, adoption, intestate succession, probate transfers, group insurance for state employees, and workers’ compensation benefits."

This piece of legislation can only be effective if the 2005 constitutional amendment that prohibited civil unions and same-sex marriages is first repealed. Last week, dallasvoice.com reported that:

"State Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, filed companion bill SJR 29 today to repeal the state’s marriage amendment that defines marriage between a man and a woman.

State Reps. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, and Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, filed a joint resolution Monday calling for a ballot measure in November to repeal the amendment that prohibits the recognition of anything similar of identical to marriage — including civil unions." 

Our elected Democratic officials are launching this group effort towards the legal recognition of same-sex unions. Though it will be an uphill battle to gain the 2/3 majority vote in both houses, all of the senators and representatives should be get a standing ovation.