The Florida Marriage Protection Amendment, a ballot initiative long-sought by social conservatives in the Sunshine State, has received enough valid petitions to be put forward in 2008. The amendment, which would prescribe a change to Florida’s constitution, will be a legal obstacle to same-sex couples obtaining marriage licenses. It does not prohibit civil unions, or the awarding of benefit rights to same-sex couples on a piecemeal basis.
The Marriage Protection Amendment has been backed chiefly by an organization called Florida Coalition to Protect Marriage. A phone call on Saturday to the number listed on the website, Florida4Marriage.org, went to voicemail at a law firm in Orlando. Organizers thought that they had enough signatures to make the measure eligible for the ballot in December, but were deterred by a computer glitch that left them 22,000 petitions short; the threshold for a measure gaining ballot status in Florida is 611,009 petitions. The Coalition responded by having supporters gather approximately 92,000 signatures in 13 days in a short burst of activity, ensuring that it would be well within range of making the goal.
Aside from its face value for conservatives, the measure may significantly affect the presidential election. Florida, often a key battleground state in years past, has grabbed the spotlight early this year by moving its primary forward and hosting a slugfest between former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Arizona Senator John McCain, who ultimately emerged the victor with help from military and senior citizen voters. If McCain is unable to effectively energize the evangelical base, they may turn out to defend marriage - and if the Democrats come together on a polarizing candidate like New York Senator Hillary Clinton, many conservatives may feel compelled to vote for McCain, even if he is not their ideal choice. Huckabee as veep would make this much more palatable for many.
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:43 am
FINALLY! IT’S ABOUT TIME!!!!!!
February 3rd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Worry about bigger issues then trying to controll other people. Conservatives are the most hatefull people and are always the ones caught with their pants down. Scum bags!
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:38 pm
ATTENTION FLORIDA(one more reason you need a marriage protection amendment)
Your childrens Schools!!!!!!
Yesterdays Daily Mail from Britain has an important article about the effects of Civil Partnerships (not even full-blown same-sex “marriage”) on the larger culture.
Once gay groups get a legal foothold they use it to subvert what they see as “heterosexist” presumptions & a “homophobic” environment.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/article …
“Teachers should not assume that their pupils have a “mum and dad” under guidance aimed at tackling anti-gay bullying in schools.”
“primary pupils as young as four should be familiarised with the idea of same-sex couples to help combat homophobic attitudes.”
“Teachers should attempt to avoid assumptions that pupils will have a conventional family background”
“When discussing marriage with secondary pupils, teachers should also educate pupils about civil partnerships and gay adoption rights.”
“It states that children who call classmates “gay” should be treated the same as racists as part of a “zero tolerance” crackdown on the use of the word as an insult.”
“At the same time, schools should encourage gay role models among staff, parents and governors. Homosexual staff should be able to discuss their private lives after the consultation with the head teacher.”
February 3rd, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Total propaganda from a self hating closet case. What a joke! Want to “Save” marriage? BAN DIVORCE!
And besides, all the counties that have recently approved gay marriages have had their divorce levels drop significantly.
Get the facts you conservative contol freak!
February 5th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I think being “gay” is just about as sick as you can get. But, with that said, I think this is one the dumbest things Florida has done next to banning off shore oil drilling. Government should not be involved in marriage on any level for any person.
June 18th, 2008 at 3:31 am
The moral base of this country has sunk so low it’s pathetic. Banning gay marriage is not “conservative” it’s just agreeing with NATURAL LAW and the 90% of people who ARE NOT GAY in this country. These minority liberals are the most ethically defunct group of people I’ve ever met.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:44 am
Amendment 2 is NOT solely about Gay Marriage. GM is a symbolic distant relative of the issue at hand, here. There are already four FL statues in place right now that QUITE clearly define marriage as I assume you would wish it to. Even if Amendment 2 were not to be passed and our constitution would still not define marriage as strongly as it would were A2 passed, GM is still very far off into the future. It’s going to take a lot to have those statutes taken away. I would suggest that the author think a little more critically about the implications of A2 in the areas of domestic partnerships etc. There are issues within this argument that pertain to heterosexual couples as well, especially within the elderly community. It DOES prohibit civil unions. There is no such THING as a civil union in FL currently. Get your shit straight.
July 31st, 2008 at 11:31 am
Well, it is something I will not vote for. It’s not the governments job to protect marriage.
As to this by John Smith:
“February 3rd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Worry about bigger issues then trying to controll other people. Conservatives are the most hatefull people and are always the ones caught with their pants down. Scum bags!”
You may want to take a long look at yourself. Liberals are the ones that tell me I have accept others, that I have to reduce my “carbon footprint”, and loads of other crap. So before you start pointing the finger and talking about how conservatives are trying to control others or that they are hateful people, go look in a mirror. You’ll just see another scum bag looking right back at you.
July 31st, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Well, this is a bit of a throwback. lol
September 12th, 2008 at 1:18 am
Isn’t this suppose to be a free country. Why is the Government worried about gay marriages and not worry about murderers and child molesters is gay marriage more important that they are trying to control peoples life. Why can people just live their life with their family without someone telling then how they living is wrong there is nothing wrong with that. I am a lesbian and i should have all the right as a any other person and i shouldn’t be judge because i don’t like men and i like women. Maybe i can’t be with a guy because i don’t feel right because guys now and days ether rape our women or beat them to death what that’s what the government rather have right they rather have their straight people but when their is gay people is BAD. How are they trying to get people to vote so their won’t be gay marriages i think that is so **** up… The government is corrupted all they think about is MONEY, MONEY, MONEY… They don’t think about the gay/lesbian and how we feel about this… They don’t care about our feelings… And i don’t think anyone should vote No…
September 12th, 2008 at 2:04 am
Millie,
There’s no legal authority in the US today that will prevent you from living with whomever you like, so long as they’re over 18. After all, this isn’t Iran. You can also have a marriage ceremony, and in many cases (although this is up to private benefit providers regardless of your sexual preference) name your partner as a beneficiary, dependent, legal stand-in, etc.
The fact is though, that the legal definition of marriage is determined largely by the states. You may or may not choose to subscribe to the legal definition of your state. The state isn’t making anyone a criminal here; it’s merely defining marriage.