COMMENTARY: Lesbian Judge in Texas Needs to Change Her Priorities

This week, it was revealed that a lesbian judge in Texas is refusing to wed opposite sex couples until same sex couples can also be wed in that state.

Judge Tonya Parker -- the first openly gay African-American elected a county judge in Texas -- said she does not perform opposite sex weddings because it is not an equal application of the law.

Although she does not perform marriage ceremonies, Judge Parker passes them on to other judges so the ceremonies can be completed.

The fact is that Texas has changed its constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman; therefore, two women or two men cannot have a bona fide marriage ceremony in Texas under the law.

We believe that Judge Parker is acting rather childish -- and even selfish -- in refusing to perform marriage ceremonies for opposite sex couples, just because Texas law forbids her from having a marriage ceremony with her lesbian lover.

Moreover, Judge Parker needs to realize that the paramount purpose of her role as a Texas judge is to serve the citizens of Texas, and not herself.

As long as she continues to refuse to perform marriage ceremonies for opposite sex couples, then, Judge Parker is doing a grave injustice to the state of Texas, to its citizens -- and to herself.