From the Associated Press via the Tribune:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Sponsors of a proposal to ban gay marriage in Florida said Thursday they have gathered enough signatures to put the measure before voters next year.
If the required 611,009 signatures are verified, the proposed amendment to the state constitution would go on the November 2008 ballot.
The state Division of Elections Web site showed the group was still 253 signatures short of its goal. John Stemberger, an Orlando lawyer who heads a coalition of groups sponsoring the proposal, said elections officials had not yet verified all the signatures but he expected them to by the end of the day.
If the measure goes on the ballot and passes, Florida would become the 28th state to ban gay marriage with a constitutional amendment.
Florida already has a state law banning gay marriages, but Stemberger said putting it in the constitution would prevent judges from overturning the statute.
Why do gay marriage opponents not settle for laws and instead push for Constitutional Amendments?
Because they know laws banning gay marriage will eventually be struck down by the 14th Amendment, or as they like to say, “liberal activist judges”.
I hate it when judges want to apply the law equally to everyone.
Activists.
-Tom
No one is going to comment on this? Do I need to be the voice of the gays again? Why do we make laws to deny people the rights of lfe, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
Jeff,
The proponents of the amendments would reject your framing of this issue as a matter of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They insist it is a matter of preserving the sacred institution of marriage that has been the foundation of society for thousands of years.
I say it’s about equal protection under the law. People have the right to believe that homosexuality is evil, but they don’t have the right to deny equal rights based on that belief.
True Tom.
Sorry, Jeff! I meant to reply to this when it hit my reader, but I had a freakishly busy day yesterday.
Tom said it much better than I could, so I’ll just say “Ditto” to his comment!
Agreed Tom, people have the right to believe homosexuality is evil, just like people can believe that being black is evil, but black people can get married, and we now commonly see racists as a fringe part of society. I hate comparing race and sexual orientation, so how about this one. Some feel that Mormonism is evil, a cult, and a brain washing society but Mormons are still aloud to have all the rights of a non-Mormon.
I don’t believe the institution of marriage should be a goverment issue, I believe it is purely relgious, so why is is government controlled? If you believe it is the goverments duty to regulate marriage I have one question; in the LDS faith why is a marriage outside of the Temple not recognized in the afterlife? The fact that you MUST be married in the Temple to progress suggests to me marriage is PURELY religious, and we all know that pesky thing about church and state.
Jeff,
Marriage HAS to be recognized by the government. While there is a spiritual and personal dimesnion that should be beyond the scope of government, marriage is also a legal contract between adults. That contract provides some pretty essential rights and privileges that protect privacy, finances, assets and more. This is in my opinion where the real discrimination againts homosexuals is happening. Where I enjoy legal priveleges and protections with my wife in these areas, comitted same sex couples do not.
btw, polygamists should be given these rights too. I know that by and large they are only interested in decriminalization right now, but they should fight for more.
I agree that the Government has to recognize it, but does government have to DEFINE it? Two adults making adult decisions using adult rational with adult consent don’t need big brother looking in their pants do decide if it is legit or not. That is religions job to patrol the genitals of the consenting adults, not governments.
Don’t get me started on Polygamy….I have serious issues with people who are so opposed to polygamy on earth, but expect and condone it after death.
I just re-read what you wrote…so I basicly just said the same thing you already wrote….my bad!! Man I am slow some days.
Honestly? I have never had a beef with polygamy that is between consenting adults. (That is consenting among ALL adults, not some guy having two families on each coast that don’t know about the other. but people who are all ok with it? Sure. I respect it more than a guy who has a wife and 2 or 3 girlfriends on the side.)
I am also ok with gay marriage. I didn’t used to be. I really had to think about it for a decade. Totally fine with it now. (I’m slow some times.) I thought your analogy between the Mormonism and gay rights was interesting and dead on, Jeff.