365Gay: Florida Anti-Gay Amendment Goes To Supreme Court For Review
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Tom Dempsey
Sep 2, 2005, 11:07:28 AM9/2/05
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Florida Anti-Gay Amendment Goes To Supreme Court For Review
by Fidel Ortega 365Gay.com Miami Bureau
Posted: September 2, 2005 11:00 am ET
(Miami, Florida) A proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution that
would ban same-sex marriage, civil unions and could be used to fight
benefits for gay couples has gone to the state Supreme Court for review.
Florida4Marriage, an umbrella group of conservative Christian political
organizations delivered petitions bearing more than the required 61,000
names to the court late Thursday.
Under Florida law the signatures are required before the wording on the
initiative can be approved by the court. If the signatures are proven
valid and the court agrees to the wording, Florida4Marriage can begin
collecting the 611,000 eligible signatures to put the question to voters.
The proposal would amend the state Constitution in 2006 to define
marriage as a union between "only one man and one woman" and that no
other kind of marriage or legal union is equivalent to marriage.
Florida4Marriage is working with the Christian Coalition of Florida and
Liberty Counsel, a conservative Christian law firm that is involved in
fighting gay marriage and domestic partner benefits in a number of states.
State law already prevents same-sex couples from marrying but makes no
mention of civil unions or partner benefits.
The proposed amendment does not have the backing of Gov. Jeb Bush. Bush
has said he considers the amendment unnecessary.
But, Florida4Marriage maintains that an amendment is needed to prevent
"activist" judges from overturning the law.
LGBT civil rights group Equality Florida calls the amendment a divisive
attempt to keep same-sex couples second class citizens.
A poll taken for the organization shows that the state is split on
amending the constitution with 54 percent in favor of barring gay
marriage and 55 percent in favor of some sort of legal protection for
gay couples.
http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/09/090205florida.htm
by Fidel Ortega 365Gay.com Miami Bureau
Posted: September 2, 2005 11:00 am ET
(Miami, Florida) A proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution that
would ban same-sex marriage, civil unions and could be used to fight
benefits for gay couples has gone to the state Supreme Court for review.
Florida4Marriage, an umbrella group of conservative Christian political
organizations delivered petitions bearing more than the required 61,000
names to the court late Thursday.
Under Florida law the signatures are required before the wording on the
initiative can be approved by the court. If the signatures are proven
valid and the court agrees to the wording, Florida4Marriage can begin
collecting the 611,000 eligible signatures to put the question to voters.
The proposal would amend the state Constitution in 2006 to define
marriage as a union between "only one man and one woman" and that no
other kind of marriage or legal union is equivalent to marriage.
Florida4Marriage is working with the Christian Coalition of Florida and
Liberty Counsel, a conservative Christian law firm that is involved in
fighting gay marriage and domestic partner benefits in a number of states.
State law already prevents same-sex couples from marrying but makes no
mention of civil unions or partner benefits.
The proposed amendment does not have the backing of Gov. Jeb Bush. Bush
has said he considers the amendment unnecessary.
But, Florida4Marriage maintains that an amendment is needed to prevent
"activist" judges from overturning the law.
LGBT civil rights group Equality Florida calls the amendment a divisive
attempt to keep same-sex couples second class citizens.
A poll taken for the organization shows that the state is split on
amending the constitution with 54 percent in favor of barring gay
marriage and 55 percent in favor of some sort of legal protection for
gay couples.
http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/09/090205florida.htm
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