• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Film/TV/Stream
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Tech/Science
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Kylie Minogue pays tribute to Olivia Newton-John and hails her as ‘inspiration’
  • Jane Lynch Departing Broadway Show ‘Funny Girl’ Earlier Than Expected — Is Lea Michele To Blame?
  • Inside Demi Lovato’s ‘Happy’ & ‘Healthy’ Romance With New Mystery Man

Texas Official Says Equal Retirement Benefits For Gays Will Lead To ‘Decline Of The Empire’: AUDIO

John Wright November 21, 2014

Clark.Ken1

A Galveston County, Texas, commissioner says offering retirement benefits to the same-sex spouses of employees could lead to "the decline of the empire." 

Republican County Commissioner Ken Clark (above) made the comments during a meeting of the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC). Clark serves on the board of the H-GAC, an intergovernmental planning agency made up of 13 member counties and more than member 100 cities in Southeast Texas. 

The H-GAC recently received a notice from the IRS stating that, due to the U.S. Supreme Court's 2013 decision striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, H-GAC must begin offering equal 401(k) benefits to same-sex couples who are legally married in other states, or lose the tax-qualified status of its retirement fund. 

The H-GAC's attorneys and a budget committee recommended complying with the IRS notice and offering retirement benefits to same-sex spouses legally married in other states. But Clark and others on the H-GAC board are apparently willing to risk losing the tax-qualified status — a decision that would affect the 401(k) plans of all 241 of its employees — to avoid offering the benefits, which they say would violate Texas' constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. 

When the issue was discussed at an H-GAC board meeting on Oct. 21, Clark said: 

“This is how the decline of the empire happens is we acquiesce to these sort of items little by little and it desensitizes us to it. At some point we’re gonna have to stand up and on this issue I choose to stand up to this because this is not, this is not appropriate for them to hold our employees hostage. And, if they choose to disqualify our plan, it will become a national issue. The American people, in my opinion, are not willing to let this come in incrementally the way this is happening, so that’s where I'm at on this issue.” 

Listen to audio from the meeting here. 

The scary thing is that a majority of Clark's fellow H-GAC board members went along with him, agreeing to table the item until their November meeting. The anti-gay Houston Area Pastor Council, which is also fighting same-sex benefits in Houston, then distributed an email to its members, in which Clark wrote: 

"If we, as freemen, do not draw the line here against the political correctness, moral decline, and government fiat in this country, our children will inherit the bonds of moral slavery. What will you say when they ask; What did you do? Why did you not stand? If you wish to stand and voice your opinion on this matter, you may attend the next meeting and do just that." 

Several members of the public spoke against same-sex retirement benefits at H-GAC's Nov. 18 montly meeting, where the board announced it was again tabling the issue. Which prompted both the Houston Area Pastor Council and the anti-gay group Texas Values to declare a victory:

“Thankfully some leaders in the Houston-area are starting to recognize that they must follow Texas law on marriage,” said Jonathan Saenz, attorney and president of Texas Values. “That’s encouraging, but Houston Mayor Annise Parker still thinks she’s above the law, and her violations of federal and state law are doing more damage to the Houston people every day,” concluded Saenz.

H-GAC has until Dec.31 to comply with the new IRS policy or lose the tax-qualified status. Stay tuned. 

Topics: Supreme Court More Posts About: gay marriage, Texas, Texas

Related Posts
  • Texas Republicans’ Platform Calls Your LGBTQ Life an “Abnormal Lifestyle Choice”; Declares Biden Election Illegitimate, Despite Evidence;
  • Former Roommate Indicted For Murder Of Florida LGBTQ Activist Jorge Diaz-Johnston, One of the Public Faces In State Fight For Marriage Equality
  • Idaho, Alabama, Wisconsin Advance Anti-Trans Youth Bills, Including Life In Prison Punishment For Providing Puberty Blockers
  • Jane Lynch Departing Broadway Show ‘Funny Girl’ Earlier Than Expected — Is Lea Michele To Blame?

    Jane Lynch Departing Broadway Show ‘Funny Girl’ Earlier Than Expected — Is Lea Michele To Blame?

    Published by OK Magazine mega Jane Lynch will be leaving the Broadway production of Funny Girl in mid-August as opposed to early September. The actress, who had been playing Mrs. Brice, a.k.a. Fanny’s mother, last show …Read More »
  • Inside Demi Lovato’s ‘Happy’ & ‘Healthy’ Romance With New Mystery Man

    Inside Demi Lovato’s ‘Happy’ & ‘Healthy’ Romance With New Mystery Man

    Published by OK Magazine mega Demi Lovato has a new man in her life! The “Skyscraper” vocalist, who recently changed her pronouns back to she/her, has reportedly found love with a mystery musician. mega “It’s a …Read More »
  • Ivanka Trump All Smiles With Husband Jared Kushner As They Step Out For Date Night Hours After FBI Raids Mar-a-Lago

    Ivanka Trump All Smiles With Husband Jared Kushner As They Step Out For Date Night Hours After FBI Raids Mar-a-Lago

    Published by Radar Online MEGA; Chris Kleponis – Pool via CNP / MEGA Ivanka Trump looked carefree during a low-key date night with husband Jared Kushner on Monday, smiling and laughing just hours after her father …Read More »
  • FOX News Host Tucker Carlson ‘Deeply Concerned’ Text Messages Between Him & Alex Jones Will Leak To Public

    FOX News Host Tucker Carlson ‘Deeply Concerned’ Text Messages Between Him & Alex Jones Will Leak To Public

    Published by Radar Online Mega Fox News host Tucker Carlson is “deeply concerned” a number of text messages between him and Alex Jones may soon leak to the public, Radar has learned. The shocking development comes …Read More »
Previous Post: « The Ladies of The Talk Debate Whether Country Music Will Ever Embrace an Openly Gay Star: VIDEO
Next Post: ‘Bitch Perfect’ Is Todrick Hall’s ‘Aca-amazing’ Gay Parody of ‘Pitch Perfect’ – VIDEO »

Primary Sidebar

Adjacent News

  • Texas church’s unauthorized production of ‘Hamilton’ ends with sermon comparing gay people to drug addicts: report

    Texas church’s unauthorized production of ‘Hamilton’ ends with sermon comparing gay people to drug addicts: report

  • Alex Jones’ Text Messages Turned Over To January 6 House Select Committee

    Alex Jones’ Text Messages Turned Over To January 6 House Select Committee

  • Michigan AG details Trump backers’ conspiracy to break into voting equipment

    Michigan AG details Trump backers’ conspiracy to break into voting equipment

Good Trash: Going to Read It Somewhere, Y’know

  • Pete Davidson Proposed to Kim Kardashian Before Their Breakup

    Pete Davidson Proposed to Kim Kardashian Before Their Breakup

  • New bombshell book on Trump reveals he wanted to be treated like Hitler: ‘Totally loyal’

    New bombshell book on Trump reveals he wanted to be treated like Hitler: ‘Totally loyal’

RSS Partner Links

  • There's a Status Update About 'Black Canary' Spinoff Movie at HBO Max
  • OMG, it’s called FASHUN, LOOK IT UP! The Croc Balls aka ‘Crocticles’
  • The Future Of “The Peltz Beckham Empire” Is Uncertain As The Beckham And Peltz Families Continue To Feud
  • OMG, have you heard? RIP Grease star Olivia Newton-John, dead at 73
  • Open Post: Hosted By The $2600 Custom Coffee Table That Showed Up Sporting An Unintentional Dick In the Middle
  • More tributes to Olivia Newton-John
  • OMG, he’s naked: Fashion model and swim coach Radu Ionut goes full-frontal

Most Recent

  • Kylie Minogue pays tribute to Olivia Newton-John and hails her as ‘inspiration’

    Kylie Minogue pays tribute to Olivia Newton-John and hails her as ‘inspiration’

  • Jane Lynch Departing Broadway Show ‘Funny Girl’ Earlier Than Expected — Is Lea Michele To Blame?

    Jane Lynch Departing Broadway Show ‘Funny Girl’ Earlier Than Expected — Is Lea Michele To Blame?

  • Inside Demi Lovato’s ‘Happy’ & ‘Healthy’ Romance With New Mystery Man

    Inside Demi Lovato’s ‘Happy’ & ‘Healthy’ Romance With New Mystery Man

  • Ivanka Trump All Smiles With Husband Jared Kushner As They Step Out For Date Night Hours After FBI Raids Mar-a-Lago

    Ivanka Trump All Smiles With Husband Jared Kushner As They Step Out For Date Night Hours After FBI Raids Mar-a-Lago

  • FOX News Host Tucker Carlson ‘Deeply Concerned’ Text Messages Between Him & Alex Jones Will Leak To Public

    FOX News Host Tucker Carlson ‘Deeply Concerned’ Text Messages Between Him & Alex Jones Will Leak To Public

  • Jane Seymour says Olivia Newton-John ‘was beyond a fighter’ at dealing with her breast cancer diagnosis

    Jane Seymour says Olivia Newton-John ‘was beyond a fighter’ at dealing with her breast cancer diagnosis

  • Donald Trump’s Former Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham Claims She Watched Him ‘Rip Up’ & ‘Throw Out’ Documents

    Donald Trump’s Former Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham Claims She Watched Him ‘Rip Up’ & ‘Throw Out’ Documents

  • Donald Trump Preparing To File Restraining Order Against Government Over Mar-A-Lago Raid

    Donald Trump Preparing To File Restraining Order Against Government Over Mar-A-Lago Raid

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

Footer

Copyright © 2022 · Log in

×