A Travis County District Court judge ordered Travis County Clerk Dan DeBeauvoir to issue a marriage license to a long time Austin same-sex couple.  The order followed Travis County Probate Judge Guy Hermann’s ruling earlier this week holding that Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.  The Austin American-Statesman reports that the couple was married in a rushed ceremony outside the Travis County Courthouse. Predictably, Tea-Party favorite Attorney General Ken Paxton attempted to stomp on the ceremony, but was likely too late.

Sarah Goodfriend and Suzanne Bryant, together almost 31 years, said their vows before Rabbi Kerry Baker while standing in front of the Travis County Clerk’s Office sign on Airport Boulevard.

Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office responded by filing an emergency motion Thursday morning asking the Texas Supreme Court to stay the judge’s order and “further stay all further state trial courts” that may seek to follow suit.

The court has not yet ruled, but there seems little that a stay could accomplish now that the marriage has already been performed. The first legally married gay couple in Texas was denied a license in the same county office building eight years ago. But on Thursday morning, state District Judge David Wahlberg, petitioned by a lawyer for Goodfriend and Bryant, ordered Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir to grant the couple a marriage license.

Red’s long-standing position is that he is in favor of allowing people to freely enter into foolish contractual relationships  – such as marriage.