Here is an article from the Dallas Morning News
Note on constitutional amendments in Texas.
The elections are held in odd years.
Turnout is extremely low in these election, so mobilization is extremely vital.
The Republicans are relying on mobilization of the religious right.
Any suggestions on mobilization efforts?
AUSTIN - The Texas Senate approved a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions Saturday, setting up a statewide referendum this fall that would further cement a ban already in state law.
The 21-8 vote crossed the two-thirds threshold needed to send the amendment to voters in November. The House approved it last month.
If voters support the measure, Texas would join nearly 20 states with constitutional bans on gay marriage. More than 40 states have statutory definitions of marriage.
Supporters said the amendment is needed to "defend families." Opponents said it would do the opposite to an estimated 43,000 same-sex couples in the state.
"This is clearly a discriminatory act, designed to strike at our community at its fundamental level: our families," said Randall Ellis, executive director of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas. "The Legislature is obviously willing to sacrifice all Texas families for this unjust agenda of intolerance and discrimination."
In 2003, the Senate passed the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage in state law as a union between a man and a woman, on a 22-7 vote. Backers of the amendment say that without it, a court could overrule the law.
"It's important to protect marriage as it has been defined for thousands of years," Senate sponsor Todd Staples, R-Palestine, said earlier this week. "All we're doing is putting it into our constitution to avoid the court challenges that 13 other states are experiencing."
The Senate rejected eight proposed amendments that would have softened the measure by, for example, recognizing gay marriages and civil unions formed in other states.