Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings has
dismissed a city resolution in support of marital rights for gay and
lesbian couples.
Scott Griggs, a member of the Dallas
City Council, confirmed to The Dallas Morning News that the
item will come up for debate.
Griggs' resolution states that
“marriage is a powerful and important affirmation of love and
commitment and a source of social support and recognition” and that
“all couples in loving and committed relationships should be given
the opportunity to create stronger and more successful families
through civil marriage.”
“BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, that we support marriage and workplace
equality in Dallas and beyond.”
According to Griggs, who represents
North Oak Cliff, he has the support to approve the resolution.
“It's timely, and it's relevant,”
he told The
Dallas Morning News. “The LGBT community is not only a big
part of Oak Cliff but a big part of Dallas.”
Rawlings told the paper that while he's
“an unequivocal supporter of marriage equality” the Dallas City
Council should limit its debate to political questions it has power
over.
“I don't want to be talking about
late-term abortions, or gun control, or Gitmo,” he said. He called
such debates “a misuse of City Council time.”
“To do this for what seems to be
political purposes is not good judgment,” he
added.