Gay marriage foes reach signature mark

Florida4Marriage.org, the statewide group hoping to put a gay marriage ban in the state Constitution, just announced that it has collected the 611,009 signatures needed for the Nov. 2008 ballot. A news conference is scheduled for the morning in Tallahassee.

Organizers fell short of obtaining signatures needed for the 2006 ballot, despite a $300,000 contribution from the state GOP. But they said they would keep working toward that goal. Signatures have to be verified by the state.

Comments

where do i sign up to ban hypocritical ahistoricalevangelicaldumbdamentalists from getting divorced and remarrying, from moleseting children at their o, so wonderful kamps for jaysus; drnking on the sly, and on and on and on?

[Rob]

Unreal!!! If this hateful group put that much time and effort into a good cause we would all be better off. Maybe a food drive, a toy drive or the GOP could have donated that 300k to a homeless shelter for families. No, I guess it is easier to hate than to really help. If marriage is so sacred than how about we ban divorce? The GOP is killing this country!!!!

Unreal!!! If this hateful group put that much time and effort into a good cause we would all be better off. Maybe a food drive, a toy drive or the GOP could have donated that 300k to a homeless shelter for families. No, I guess it is easier to hate than to really help. If marriage is so sacred than how about we ban divorce? The GOP is killing this country!!!!

[John]

Good.Now we can vote and tell them to shove their signatures up their respective bahookies.

Congratulations on achieving this important milestone!

[Barbara]

Why do you care? If you don't like Gays...don't marry one. Mind your own business. No, I am not Gay, in case you are interested....Although I don't know why you would be?

[Lindsay]

How embarassing for our state that there are enough hatemongering petition signers to get this on the ballot. They are so quick to judge others rather than turning that attention inwards.

Let the people decide. This is a great day for Florida.

[chris]

I hope the people decide to let people have their own lives and the freedoms they deserve. "the pursuit of happiness"...amen. Let's marry who we want to..God bless America

If you GAYS don't like it go back to California.

[paulo]

well well well aint this something else,there are more stright religious couples breaking every rule in the bible but yet they want to tell others how to or not to live their lives,those of you that put your signature on this, shame on you,dont think you wont be judged by god just because your straight.lets see,divorce rates?child molestors,babys in dumpters? murder rates?its all from straight folks,and you sll think your going to heaven?? what ever...

[lee]

10% off ky jelly and back in the closet.

[KD]

So, all it takes is 611,009 signatures to get anything on the ballot? I say we collect signatures to no longer allow xtians the right to marriage. Why? because we can.

[Shayla]

AS for going back to California, moron, I am a native Floridian. YOU go back.

[DB]

Why would gay marriage be available at all? Marriage is between a Man and a Women. Gays can have a great life together without a marriage if they make that choice.

Congratulations on getting enough signatures...it's unfortunate that a law has to be put in place to legislate the obvious...marriage is between a man and a woman.

[Rob]

Hey DB,

Ask Dick Cheney's daughter why gays should have the right to wed. She and her partner have a child and her partner has no legal rights to that child. If the child was rushed to the hospital and Mrs. Cheney was out of town her partner would have as many rights as a babysitter. Like it or not this is the real world.

exactly how do they verify "signatures" that are mostly "x" and "xx"?

these people blaepheme god and the name christian with each and every mouth-breath they take!!

I can only hope that the GOP continues focusing on men kissing other men instead of issues that people actually care about.

Ironic that the FL GOP put up that money last year when they've had more "outings" in 2007 than you can shake a stick (or tap a foot or offer a $20 bill...) to...pun intended!

[Kenneth]

"If you GAYS don't like it go back to California.

Posted by: | December 12, 2007 at 06:27 PM"

If you old farts don't like it, go back to Ohio!

[Dave]

Maybe they morons could find something important to worry about in the country?

Sad, how these pathetic dopes just can't mind their own business (unless it's in a public toilet like Sen. Larry Craig or all the other gay Republican hypocrites).

Maybe if gay marriage was legal, all the Republicans could actually marry the men they're so attracted to, instead of ruining families by marrying woman and lying to everyone.

Republican = closeted homosexual nine times out of ten. Sad.

[simba]

Last time I checked, homosexuality was barely mentioned in the Bible.

On the other hand, adultery is one of the Big Ten Commandments.

Yet, strangely, you never hear those megachurch pastors like Randy & Paula White railing about adultery, do you?

Hmm. I wonder why that is.

Whoooohoooo, we get to vote on the homertesticle issues!

GREAT! Religion and pole-smokers… another successful diversion from the issues that impact our lives day-in-and-day-out so we hobble to the voting booth like clueless little lemmings.

You’ve just got to love American Democracy. And to think some people believe that the lives of our fighting men and women in the Armed Forces… are wasted on oil.

[Larry]

What is really pathetic about this, is the fact that it’s needed. The liberals who want to change the rules of marriage to suit their lifestyle choices, should take a close look and see the result of their handi-work in ruining the once proud downtown area of St. Petersburg. The liberal hand wringers thought is was disgraceful that the police should actually enforce the laws to keep the homeless from sleeping on park benches, like they do in 99% of all other cities in the U.S.

They wielded enough power locally to force the city to give up a park in the downtown area. It is now a trash filled eyesore that had to be fenced off with advertising to keep the public from seeing the horrific living conditions that people who have no self respect, have brought to the city. Soon the homeless will be demanding more parks, and more city services, to protect them from themselves, and to keep up with the growth from the influx to what is now known as "homeless friendly St. Petersburg, FL"

Just like we are now having to demand that our government protect the sanctity of the traditional marriage, from those same hand wringers. It’s a shame when we have to force the government to protect our laws from those that don’t respect them so we don’t have to be known as "gay marriage friendly Florida"!

[Englebert]

I'll be the first to admit I do not like the idea/concept of homosexuality. HOWEVER, I don't like garlic either, but that sure as hell doesn't mean I'm going to try and pass laws banning it. I don't think there's any GOOD REASON gay marriages should NOT be recognized. Marry whom you want!

[Rita]

Why can't we all just live and let live......

[Englebert]

BTW, it's threads like this that show just how many angry, dangerous, and irrational people there are out there!

[terminator]

congrats to John Stemberger and Laura Gallagher for their fine work.

to all of you liberals, gays and lesbians, the message is: if you want to wed a member of the same sex or (possibly an animal), you won't be able to do it here in Florida.

marriage is between a man and a woman. we also won't allow you to corrupt our kids by making them believe alternative lifestyles are acceptable.

thank God for the Christian people fighting the good fight against those barbarians who would seek to destroy our country, our morals, our religion and our decency with their hedonistic lifestyles.

I think what peeves you most is the Christian right isn't laying down and accepting the diversity propaganda any longer.

We're taking back our country. Get over it!

[Bill]

Hey lets pass a law to BAN ALL MARRIAGES --- NO Divorces, NO RIGHTS for ANYONE that makes all equal. Mind your own business people nobody is asking to attend a Gay Wedding. Guess What? We will still be Gay no matter what the Vote and we are not MOVING --DEAL WITH IT

[Lisa]

Perhaps if all of the fundies wanted to "preserve the sanctity of marriage" they should start with heteros who have single handidly pushed the divorce rate of 50%.

Larry, are you going to blame the insurance crisis on gays too? Florida is known as one of the worst states for education, perhaps if you're worried about being known for something you should be concerned about kids being stupid.

Christians taking back the country? Since when was it yours? My God taught me to love all people. Apperently your God is not tolerant and loving. If you want to look at what is destroying the county let's start with the important issues like Iraq, the economy, and the housing market. The gay marriage issue is old. Move on and let people live their lives.

[WhatAboutTheWar?]

Today it was announced Congress has projected spending an additional $70 BILLION in Iraq.

Let's move off gay marriage and focus efforts on something important. The same crazies who voted W into office on the gay marriage platform are still fixated on it. How many more soldiers will die and how much more money will be spent until they realize there are more pressing issues.

[Larry]

Lisa,

It is a very old and tired liberal tactic that you are trying. If someone speaks out about any issue at all, that is not a liberal’s issue, the liberal must change the parameters of the debate.

This issue is not about bad behaving heterosexuals. It is not about the insurance crisis. It is not about Christian’s taking back the country, or about Lion’s eating Christian’s. I don’t care who you love or don’t love.

This debate is about an element of society that wants to change the laws to suit a special interest. If you don’t want to debate this particular topic, I would suggest you find the topic of Florida’s insurance crisis.

Debate that one rather than making the gay marriage issue null and void because there are so many other issues out there.

[Rosie]

The comments from both sides are so hateful. If it is on the ballot the voters will decide. Why can't people in this country just disagree, why is it if a person doesn't agree with the opposing side we say they are racist or hatemongers. Why can't we have diversity in thought and respect each others different opinions.

Pearls before swine, Rosie. The Buzz advertises itself as a must-read for "political junkies" and unfortunately most of them are real crackheads and are just as irrational, incoherent, nasty and self absorbed as that implies.

[John]

Larry

Move back to Ohio.

[Tony]

Marriage between two members of the same sex is already illegal in this state. Why do we need to write hate into the state consititution!!! This wll only create more expensive lawsuits for the state.

This amendment would prohibit gay and STRAIGHT domestic partners from qualifying for health-related and employment benefits, hospital visitation, inheiritance distribution, etc. The amendment could prevent all unmarried couples from receiving the benefits or protections that married couples receive, and could bring financial hardship to seniors who might have a domestic partner but often won't remarry because of cuts in benifits.

Right now gay or straight, can share health insurance benefits in many government jobs, and also receive medical cards allowing each other to visit in the hospital. This would go away with this amendment.

THIS AFFECTS STRAIGHT PEOPLE TOO!!!!!!!!

[Tony]

Marriage between two members of the same sex is already illegal in this state. Why do we need to write hate into the state consititution!!! This wll only create more expensive lawsuits for the state.

This amendment would prohibit gay and STRAIGHT domestic partners from qualifying for health-related and employment benefits, hospital visitation, inheiritance distribution, etc. The amendment could prevent all unmarried couples from receiving the benefits or protections that married couples receive, and could bring financial hardship to seniors who might have a domestic partner but often won't remarry because of cuts in benifits.

Right now gay or straight, can share health insurance benefits in many government jobs, and also receive medical cards allowing each other to visit in the hospital. This would go away with this amendment.

THIS AFFECTS STRAIGHT PEOPLE TOO!!!!!!!!

[Jillyen]

what's the big deal? so many things are changing in the world today.illegal immigrants can get jobs and insurance,but gays have very few rights.what's that say about this country? people always talk about how the bible says you should love everyone,but when the topic of gays/lesbians comes up,there's so much hatred.hopefully by the time my son is old enough to vote people won't have stupid stuff like this on the ballot

[mike]

The republican party is full of intolerance and hatred also corruption...but so is the democratic party...

[Julie]

If marriage is a religious matter, how come one has to get a LICENSE from the government to do it? I'd say if I have to go to the courthouse and pay a fee, that's where the superstitions of religion ends and the separation of church and state begins....

[Julie]

Getting this issue onto the ballot is not about morals or policy, it is about getting the holier-than-thou homophobes out to vote because they vote overwhelmingly Republican.
The GOP bashes the gays as a "get out the vote" tactic every election cycle...they hate us queers but they sure don't hate the taxes we pay...

[Lisa]

Larry,

My special interest is that I pay (far) more in taxes than the average Floridian makes. Why can't my partner and I have the same rights?

Everything about politics is special interest. I have to tolerate the big oil interest, the senior citizen's interest, the environmental interests, the drug company interests, the government contractor interests, the farming interest, the list goes on and on.

So you can tolerate my interest for civil rights. If you don't want me to have equal rights then don't tax me at an equal rate.

I have to pay for breeder's mistakes in the form of single parent households, children on welfare, increased crime rates as a result of unwanted children who were brought into this world by heteros who don't take the time to raise them properly.

So if I want to marry my partner and have the same rights as my straight counterparts I don't see why anybody would have a problem with it.

[LarryIsDumb]

Larry must be new to the world. Politics is about special interests and everybody has an agenda. Go back under the rock you crawled out from and come back with a real arguement.

[StupidSeniors]

I'm willing to bet a good portion of those signatures are from people who didn't realize what they were signing.

Just like contractors I'm sure the bible pounders duped the seniors and lower educated folk into signing the document. If there is one thing this state can rely on it's the stupidity of it's citizens.

By the way, Charlie Crist is a raging homo.

Simba, you need to study the Bible a little harder. Romans 1:25-28 states:Who changed the truth of God into a lie,and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever.Amen.For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Go ahead and finish reading the rest of that chapter and you will know exactly how God feels about Queers and Lesbians.Don't try to twist this to fit your agenda. after all Liberals are famous for that. You can think what you want,but there it is in black and white. Oh, btw, trashing me doen't change "the Word",so do what you gotta'

TO terminator, I couldn't have said it any better.I think that it's time for all Christians to stand up and be counted and heard.

I signed and will campaign to make sure it passes.

[dave]

Terminator, the BARBARIANS are the school teacher engagind in sex with minors. The barbarians are straight men (supposedlY) soliciting sex in public restrooms. The BARBARIANS are the one who would just as string up a gay man/lesbian for just being what he/she is. YOU, sir, are the kind barbarain you speak of....