It was not a good year for progressive victories at the Lege, but Pasadena popinjay Republican Robert Talton failed once again in his perennial attempt (HB 194) to make the lives of gay families more miserable and the life chances of orphan children just a little more desperate. Despite the ascendance of the GOP over the whole Capitol, they still couldn’t manage this transparent blow against simple compassion and family values – and much of the credit for their defeat goes to the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby, which worked diligently to line up public opposition and private allies, and brought out the troops every time the bill stuck its ugly head up in committee. Which it will no doubt do again in 2005, and we know the LGRL will rise to the challenge once again.
