Houston Mayor Annise Parker
In 2009, residents of Houston, Texas made history when they elected Annise Parker as the first openly gay mayor of Houston. Progress!
Thursday she experienced another first.
Daughter needs drivers test. Has all docs, some in MomA name, some MomK, but w/ birth cert showing both. DPS says can only be from 1 mom!-A
— @AnniseParker
Her daughter went to take her driver's test and she was turned away. Why? Because the Texas Department of Public Safety personnel initially
refused to accept her birth certificate as valid:
Turns out the Texas Department of Public Safety won’t honor name changes obtained through same-sex marriages in other states, based on the state’s anti-gay marriage amendment.
Now, it appears the DPS also won’t allow the children of same-sex couples to take a driver’s test if both of their parents names are listed on their birth certificate. It doesn’t even matter if one of their parents is the mayor of Houston.
After Mayor Parker complained on Twitter (and presumably elsewhere), Texas Department of Public Safety officials made a reversal:
Finally! After 3rd trip to DPS w/ different sets of docs in an unnecessary paper chase, last child has her drivers license.-A
— @AnniseParker
Thank you to the DPS clerk & supervisor in the Rosenberg office who took the time to read my daughters documentation & realize it was OK.-A
— @AnniseParker
Glad it all worked out for the Parker family. But, one has to wonder–what if she weren't the mayor? Would DPS officials have reversed their stance so quickly?
In a video made before this incident, see Mayor Annise Parker's message to the LGBT community nationwide, calling for the community to band together and stand up for those oppressed around the world.
