Gay marriage ban makes November ballot

The gay marriage battle has arrived in Florida.

A proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage qualified for the November ballot in a last-minute petition tally Friday night - a development that could affect this fall's presidential election.

But a much closer watched, higher stakes measure did not make the deadline. Advocates for Hometown Democracy, which is pushing an initiative that would require local referenda for changes to local land use plans, now must aim for the 2010 ballot.

"It proves that private property rights are significantly important to Floridians, as they are to all Americans," said Barney Bishop, chief executive of Associated Industries of Florida and head of an anti-Hometown Democracy group called Save Our Constitution. (story here)

Comments

[Bryan]

This is pathetic. If you fall in love with someone, thats your choice, not some religious conservative saying its between a man and a woman. I am definitely voting AGAINST this and I know I will have many followers.

[Dave]

Who is to say that these couples would have kids?

This is highly unnecessary and I will do all in my power to DEFEAT this amendment.

Marriage is such a pain maybe we should vote to ban it for everyone! More seriously... let's all mind our own business and allow all their contitutional rights to happiness, equal treatment, and most of all privacy.

Not this again. With the economic downturn and the punitive nature of this non-sense and amendment 1, this state should just declare "closed for business".

Will all those pushing for this ban please take your brown shirts and move back to Alabama. The rest of us would like to live in freedom and prosperity.

[Julie]

I hope the message gets out that this will affect heterosexuals who "shack up" too...otherwise, it will just turn into a gay-bashing landslide. So sad....

What is really dumb is the proponents of this plan don't realize they are doing the bidding for the insurance industry - an industry that covertly instigated this movement with the help of well-compensated evangelicals.

Google it.

Game over for the homertesticles... Remember, you asked for it. This thing passes with 73%.

[Heidi]

What I want to know is how many of these right-wing Bible thumpers are divorced, remarried, or have had an affair? "Sanctity of marriage" my a--! I though Jesus preached tolerance and love...

[herman wright]

Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lay with mankind, as with womankind. It is an abomination.

[stop being sanctimonious plz]

oh please people, some people just aren't comfortable with it! like it or not!

[UF Student]

I like all the hypocrites who use the Bible to justify their hatred of homosexuals, but ignore the other things the Bible says when it's not to their liking or inconvenient. Just say you don't like Gays, I'd respect you more.

[Heidi]

If you are not comfortable with it, then don't DO it. But the Bible should not be written in to our state constitution! Don't force your mythology on everybody!

[Mike]

Another win for the GOP!!!
Thanks Florida, I think I might move to a more progressive state!!!!

Hey vote for Bush for a third term, only Fl can make that possibly.

Time to get the old time thinkers out of his state and join the union!

This amendment is only to make sure the conservatives vote, Shame on you FL!!!!!!

Thanks for bringing the real policies of the next election front and center!

[Jay]

Can Charlie Crist veto this if it passes?

[Tom]

It seems interesting to me that so many of the opponents of same sex mariage are also big supporters of Mitt Romney.

Alan Keyes has just published this:

"Mitt Romney is single-handedly responsible for instituting same-sex marriage in Massachusetts."

He goes into a detailed explanation at: http://www.alankeyes.com/articles/080131romney.php

The Massachusetts court decision and legislative remedy made national headlines but these details were either left out or were buried.

This would have been useful information for voters to have before this weeks primary election.

[Bill]

Lev 11:12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you

We need a constitutional amendment to shut down all RED LOBSTERS!

[R]

I say we all vote to ban the marriage tax. Don't let anyone tell you it's no more. The tax tables force your spouse under the same tax levels.

If gays want to be married, make sure they pay the tax and get screwed like the rest of us.

[Tim]

There are several versus in the bible that tell us it isn't our job to judge. Is not St. Peter sitting at the Pearly Gates to judge us as we try to enter Heaven. Apparently God has given these fanatics the ability to usurp the book they constantly quote and devoutly follow. If that is what you truly believe (the Bible), why not follow it completely. Why not let people do what they want and leave the judgment of their sins those more equipped to do so.

[Victoria]

I'm appalled, how dare they or anyone for that matter question or invade others personal lives. If people want to date or marry the same sex that is their business...not the governments, they need to bud out of peoples personal lives, remember kids, god isn't suppose to be incorporated into the government, people came to this country to escape that, have we all forgotten that?

I personally think that this whole ordeal is completely absurd and I think that if this law is passed then I will officially be ashamed to live in Florida (As if I'm not already ashamed enough as it is.)

[Richard]

Right On Bill (12:35) write up the petition I'll help get it signed.

[Nathan]

Boy, gay marriage certainly has destroyed Massachusetts. What, exactly, is the intention of this amendment? "Protecting" marriage? Hardly - the real message is that gay Floridians' relationships are second tier and by implication (or legal definition) illegitimate. Nice.

[Marcin, British Columbia, Canada]

I'm a former resident of Florida who moved to Canada in large part because of the ultra-conservative, anti-gay turn in American politics. In Canada, same-sex marriage has been legal for several years throughout the country and today is a non-topic. My point here is not to raise Canada on a pedestal, but rather to draw attention to the values of tolerance and separation of church and state - values that I know many Floridians believe in very strongly.

Among the saddest outcomes of these types of ballots is the reinforcement of the 'us vs. them' mentality. Just because I am gay or because I'm not a Christian, shouldn't make me an object of hatred. No matter what the difference (sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, political affiliation, citizenship), if we are to evolve as a society and focus on things of importance to us all (health care, education, reducing violence), the last thing we need is to target ANY group because of their difference.

It wasn't easy for me to leave my family and good friends behind in Florida and move to Canada. However, the cost of being treated as a second-class citizen and not having my relationship with the person I love be recognized was too much. Here in Canada, I know that I have EQUAL rights, responsibilities and protections under the law.

For those who want to see how similar homo and hetero relationships really are, check out some recent (January 2008) studies published in Developmental Psychology, a journal of the American Psychological Association. For a summary, you can view the article "Equal Level Of Commitment And Relationship Satisfaction Found Among Gay And Heterosexual Couples" at www.sciencedaily.com.

In conclusion, I would urge all of those who believe in tolerance and the separation of church and state to make sure you vote AND make sure you get at least one other person to vote; NUMBERS COUNT. And for those who hold very strong conservative beliefs, I would ask you to consider whether your beliefs are validated in any way by further marginalizing an entire group of people.

Please vote NO on writing discrimination into our state constitution.

HELLO -- gay marriage is already illegal in the state and upheld by a judge. Put it in the Constitution - everything else is in there.

[Marcin, British Columbia, Canada]

I'm a former resident of Florida who moved to Canada in large part because of the ultra-conservative, anti-gay turn in American politics. In Canada, same-sex marriage has been legal for several years throughout the country and today is a non-topic. My point here is not to raise Canada on a pedestal, but rather to draw attention to the values of tolerance and separation of church and state - values that I know many Floridians believe in very strongly.

Among the saddest outcomes of these types of ballots is the reinforcement of the 'us vs. them' mentality. Just because I am gay or because I'm not a Christian, shouldn't make me an object of hatred. No matter what the difference (sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, political affiliation, citizenship), if we are to evolve as a society and focus on things of importance to us all (health care, education, reducing violence), the last thing we need is to target ANY group because of their difference.

It wasn't easy for me to leave my family and good friends behind in Florida and move to Canada. However, the cost of being treated as a second-class citizen and not having my relationship with the person I love be recognized was too much. Here in Canada, I know that I have EQUAL rights, responsibilities and protections under the law.

For those who want to see how similar homo and hetero relationships really are, check out some recent (January 2008) studies published in Developmental Psychology, a journal of the American Psychological Association. For a summary, you can view the article "Equal Level Of Commitment And Relationship Satisfaction Found Among Gay And Heterosexual Couples" at www.sciencedaily.com.

In conclusion, I would urge all of those who believe in tolerance and the separation of church and state to make sure you vote AND make sure you get at least one other person to vote; NUMBERS COUNT. And for those who hold very strong conservative beliefs, I would ask you to consider whether your beliefs are validated in any way by further marginalizing an entire group of people.

Please vote NO on writing discrimination into our state constitution.

[Jason Straight]

fORGETT Abouta recession the war insurance taxes foreclosures the real estate depression the economy lets send them gays to Guantanamo.My comment to you whacko GOP evangelical supporters is "who cares".While I respect your right to worship a demanding Christian God what evidence do you have that God is not Gay!!!Touche

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — "Mitt Romney is single-handedly responsible for instituting same-sex marriage in Massachusetts."

That's the view of Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes, who lobbied against the state's adoption of same-sex marriage when it was imminent in 2004.

"Most people are unaware of the way Massachusetts came to adopt same-sex marriage," the former Reagan administration diplomat said. "They think the state's Supreme Judicial Court forced it to happen. That's incorrect."

Said Keyes, "The court merely issued an opinion stating that, in its view, the existing marriage law was unconstitutional because it failed to allow persons of the same sex to marry. The court then gave the legislature 180 days to 'take such action as it may deem appropriate in light of this opinion' — implicitly telling lawmakers to come up with a new marriage statute."

According to Keyes, "the public record shows the legislature refused to do so. It balked at this attempt by the judiciary to usurp its legislative authority. When the 180-day deadline came and went, the legislature had not changed the marriage law."

Why then, Keyes asked, did Massachusetts become the first state to adopt same-sex marriage — if in fact the legislature never changed the law to reflect the decision of the court?

The answer, he said, is that "Mitt Romney pushed through same-sex marriage all by himself, in the absence of any authority or requirement to do so, having a complete misunderstanding of his role as governor and of the significance of the court's opinion."

"The court never ordered him to act, nor did he have the right to act, since the legislature never changed the law," said Keyes. "Romney claimed he had no other choice, but that's completely untrue."

"The appropriate course of action for Romney was to do nothing," Keyes commented, since the legislature gave him no new law to enforce. Instead, "as governor, he created, in essence, his own same-sex marriage rule and then enforced it — reportedly threatening local clerks with dismissal if they refused to comply with his executive order," Keyes noted.

To Keyes, the result was catastrophic. "This action by Mitt Romney is among the most socially-damaging actions by a chief executive in our nation's history. Because of its far-reaching implications for the future of the traditional family, it threatens to destroy our entire moral and cultural fabric more than any other executive action I can think of."

"The failure by Romney to 'say no' to corrupt activist judges in a critical controversy over 'separation of powers,' and his willingness to take unwarranted steps that exceeded his lawful authority, reveal the kind of chief executive he would be if elected president," Keyes believes.

Romney's mishandling of the matter, said Keyes — who holds a Ph.D. from Harvard in government and wrote his dissertation on constitutional theory — has been ignored by conservative leaders, as well as the national media. "Romney shouldn't get a free pass on so vital a public-policy issue."

Looks like the only "hate" expressed here is by the supporters of gay marriage against those who support the traditional definition of marriage. Looks like more Leftwing fascism -- accept our deviancy in the name of diversity OR ELSE!

Please this is just a silly meaningless initiative by a small group of people who are unsure about their sexuality. They have repressed homosexual feelings and act out against gays to reassure themselves that THY are not GAY!!

So many closets... so little time...

Why does marriage need defending? Who is attacking it?

The adulterers?

[zenator]

This is just another illustration of the divisive politics that has raged unchecked for the last 17 years through out the land.

Same sex marriage is already illegal in Florida and nothing suggests that the Legislature intends to change the existing law.

[Will]

People, by the powers at be, this is not about same sex marriage, its about putting a ballot question on the 2008 ballot to ensure high evangelical voter turnout, helping republicans.

Come on, Im a republican, and i even know that.

But the very "evangelicals" this silly measure hopes to get out to vote in November HATE McCain, who will be the Republican nominee, because he called them "agents of intolerance. Rightly so. So will they go to the polls to vote for the "Marriage Amendment" and then vote for ... Hillary? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Don't forget, it was Bill Clinton who signed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, and Hillary has been often criticized by leading gay rights group for her lack of interest in the subject. She never really states her position.

Maybe the evangelicals will vote for Hillary, and the gays for McCain.

If you are against gay marriages don't marry someone of the same sex.

Why are our elected officials wasting time on this - HELLO!!!!! Property taxes!!!! Property Insurance!!!! Lack of living wage jobs!!!!! Why am I paying surcharges for Citizens so multi-millionaires can have cheap insurance on their beachfront homes!!!

If your church doesn't approve of gay marriages let it do the same thing it does when it doesn't approve of child abuse, adultry, murder, etc. - teach that it is wrong.

These good, kind church folk can come talk to me about gay marriage after they've cleaned up their own houses and churches and put in as much time and effort reducing divorce, domestic violence, and poverty among their own members!!!! Until then - they can keep their hypocritical opinions to themselves.

Got good word on the next amendment to change the Constitution.
It will prohibit non-evangilicals from voting.

Wonder what comes after that?

[Jason Straight]

Utterly amazing ..This amendment is another Rovian mind trick with 1984 orwellian overtores..Idiocracy the movie playing right here..Bronwo anyone??

[Jim Johnson]

If Heather can have two mommies, why not five?

heather might just, if she is the child of a godfearingevangelical who jest happens to have married five diff'rnt wimmins...whadu think?

and, do tell me if there is anything "wrong" with recieving love and nurture from FIVE people?

So many scared people...

[chewyandbert]

The point is not whether gays can live together or have rights guaranteed under the constitution. They should. But gay marriage is a completely different issue. It involves an unnatural union which can bear no offspring. The human race survives because of the natural union of men and women, with the purpose of bearing children to further the survival of the species. Gays should have the rights of citizens, love who they wish and whatever else they wish to do short of marriage or anything else which I have to pay for.

[Jim Johnson]

6:52

It's illegal to have 5 wives or 5 husbands. But why stop with just one? Why have any regulation of intimate relationships...period?

In fact, deregulate traffic! How dare society restrict my movement to specific directions and paths!

[Norman]

JUST SAY NOAH!

[Norma]

Let me clarify it. Remember the Rainbow... Just say Noah!

[dewey]

Gay marriage in Florida is history. This will pass with a strong margin regardless of the pro-gay efforts.

U-Hauls to MA still are available...act now.

There is nothing biblically pure in this movement. Two things are putting wind in its sails. It is money-maker for the church business. Likewise, it is the desire of the insurance industry to limit benefits and they have covertly supported this movement. Those common folk that support the amendment are just pawns in the game.

[Brown]

Total political move. This has nothing to do with being gay or not being gay. It has to do with conservative voter turn out. It got Bush elected in 2004. Who cares that our country is in shambles...let's get out and vote to keep gay people from marrying. Classic example of the GOP trying to get voter turnout. Unfortunately, most of us are too ignorant to realize how we are played like pawns...especially on lesser important hot topic political grandstanding issues such as Gay marriage.