Didn't we already ban gay marriage?

Floridians have to decide this November whether to put a ban on same-sex marriage in our state Constitution. Maybe you're thinking: "Huh? Didn't we already ban this in Florida?"

Yep. You bet. Our Legislature passed a law.

But the backers say the ban ought to be in our Constitution too. So they got enough petition signatures to put it on the ballot. (more from SPT columnist Howard Troxler)

Comments

[Jason Straight]

Yahoo,whose next ??Muslims,Jews,Mexicans ?What other minority group will be singled out for punishment?We ALREADY HAVE A NEW AMENDMENT ALLOWING cHUCH FUNDING BY OUR STATE on the ballot . These are views that dont belong in the Florida Constitution.The Radical followers of the GOP Right wing sect are misguided.This is a ploy to bring their supporters out in Nov eventhough nobody cares anymore !Our states financial situation is dire .The problem is the GOP supporters will be living in their cars by then and wont have the money to buy $5 gas to go to the polls.

if it wasn't for misled activist liberal judges, who overthrow the will of the people and decree laws from the bench, then this would not be an issue.

and what is wrong with having this on the ballot? the proponents have to have 60% of the vote for it to pass? This passes the two rules of a democracy- 1. to respect the wishes of the majority. 2. to not trample on the rights of the minority (i.e. bill of rights) Marriage is in fact not a right but is a privilege once the people meet the requirements of the state, the same as driving and owning your own business

[Ron Mills]

You Mean those activist Judges that put Bush in the Whitehouse?

Hey Ron, get over it.

Hey Ron, get over it.

This belongs in our constitution just about as much as the pregnant pigs amendment.

[Charlotte]

Marriage is a basic civil right that should be attainable by all Americans if they choose. For the truth about gay marriage check out our trailer. Produced to educate & defuse the controversy it has a way of opening closed minds & provides some sanity on the issue: www.OUTTAKEonline.com

[Issywise]

This is something different than anything that has been done in American history. Constitutions guarantee many rights. In many cases, those guaranteed rights that apply to all have special application in cases where minorities are discriminated against by majorities.

Here what we are asked to do as Americans is single out a minority and disable, by constitution, legal privileges other people can exercise. We are asked to single out a discrete minority and place them under a permanent legal disadvantage enshrined in the constitution.

This amendment turns the shield of the constitution into a sword to attack a discrete minority with.

We ought not get in that practice. As mentioned in a comment above, it is a slippery slope to step out onto. If homosexuals, why not some other discrete minority in the future when 60% of voters can be momentarily agitated to act?

Second, the state's interest in marriage is limited to kids, community stability and property rights. The state has no interest in some religion's definition of holy sacraments.

There is nothing to say that Gay marriages would adversely affect kids. There is much evidence to show that stable homosexual couples add stability to communities as a whole as do heterosexual couples. The property issues dealt with in our family laws would just as well apply to homosexual couples as heterosexuals--extending the reach of equity and fairness into their property distribution issues too. No harm would be done to any third party if Judges used Florida Statutes Chapter 61 to resolve property law issues between two homosexual litigants.

Marriage can be anyone's sacrament: that is each of our right as free citizens living in a nation that respects religious freedom. That does not justify the state incorporating some peoples' definition of marriage into the law. That is mixing religion and the state to compel adherence of all to the religious doctrines of some. It is not consistent with separation of church and state.

This proposal is bad as constitutional doctrine, as social engineering and is inconsistent with some of the most fundamental values in America--respect for individuals and separation of church and state.

In America, constitutions are supposed to protect minorities from the majorities' excesses--they shouldn't be converted into new tools of oppression.

Our father, their fathers and their fathers stretching all the way back to the founding didn't do it. Why should we start?

Marriage, as defined by one man-one woman, is clearly what Americans support. Liberal/Progrssive judges and politicians are the one's who are going contrary to the wishes of the majority of Americans. In addition, it is unacceptable that Gov. Crist has not actively supported the Constitutional Amendment here in Florida. He will be a one-term Governor!

I'm so glad we have so much time and money to waste on this - gosh knows that we don't need to be spending this time, effor, and money on physically and sexually abused children, or severely physically and mentally handicapped people. Obviously it is more important to spend time and money to keep consenting adults from formalizing their relationship thus extending the federal tax penalty for such hetro relationships than it would be to focus on TAX REFORM and figuring out ways to keep the "middle class" from turning into the the "working poor."

Perhaps government ought to get out of the religion business - as MARRIAGE is a RELIGIOUS COVENANT - and, only issue civil commitment licenses - leaving those who want to get married to find some religious cleric of their choice to perform the ceremony - for an appropriate fee, of course!

Correction: Obviously it is more important to spend all this time and money to keep consenting adults from formalizing their relationships thus extending the federal tax penalty for such relationships like their hetro counterparts than...

[Clyde]

07:03 AM: You are the poster child for everything that is wrong with the Florida electorate.

[Jason Straight]

PRESIDENT OBAMA get used to it boys!!!

[Omega83]

"Activist Judges" is simply the cry of Activist Executives, who in their vain attempts to thwart the Constitutional design of co-equal branches, express frustration when the 2 centuries old genius of James Madison rings true time and again - this only happens, however, when formerly Axctivist Legislatures roll-over and die to the Executive.

This constitutional initiative amendment is supported by Christians who would like to exterminate homosexuals and lesbians, however such a "Final Solution" is not possible in the United States.

11:42
You say: "Marriage, as defined by one man-one woman,"

By who? You? Your preacher? Your view of God's will?

You say "....is clearly what Americans support. Liberal/Progrssive judges and politicians are the one's who are going contrary to the wishes of the majority of Americans."

Wasn't it true that judges were going against the wishes of the majority when marriage was legally defined as not including persons of different races?

Did that really matter to you?

Wasn't it also true when judges and legislatures struck down segregation, religious discrimination, discrimination based on national origin, age discrimination?"

In every case, there was a law or many laws where the majority sought to oppress the minority. You seek to promote the issue upstairs to the constitution--to vest your preferences with constitutional authority. Don't you see it as misdirected to fault judges for defending individual rights in the face of majoritarian oppression when that is exactly what you are trying to use the constitution to do? Owning the law today ain't enough for you?

Whose the activist here? The judge using the constitution to protect a minority, or the would-be majority hoping to shove its prejudices down all our throats?

I sincerely hope your effort fails.

REMEMBER.......

these SPONSORS and SUPPORTERS are the same skum of humanity that wrote and supported racist laws...

supported a ban on interracial marrige...

regularly attended and particpated in beatings and lynching of people of color...

burned churches adn crosses...

hid themselves under sheets an dhoods...

believe women are simply here for the abusing and raping...

and think dick and lynne CHENEY are wonderful people, despite whatever they did to their daughte, MARY, to make her into a lesbian!!

they "think" the believe in god.

simply put: THEY DONT!!

THEY BELIEVE IN HATRED!!!!

Marriage is the legal and spiritual union of one man and one woman. It's unfortunate it has to come to enshining this in the Florida Constitution, but it has.

If not, next we could have NAMBLA arguing for the "right" to "marry" young boys. Or pedphiles arguing for their "rights" to marry young girls or boys. Promoting special rights for homosexuals or others is really about affirming their sexual prefences; not discriminating against a minority. These activists believe conferring marital status will allow society to accept this lifestyle as a normal alternative, it's not. And it's not healthy for raising children either.

Men have freewill to engage in whatever they want in private as long as it doesn't violate state or federal law; but their sexual preference(appetites) do not define marriage.

In the end, everything we do "privately" which violates his commands we'll give an account before God. Even though someone's acts may not violate civil laws they can violate moral and Natural Law. In order to preserve our culture and protect the family, the backbone of civilization, this amendment is necessary.

[ClydeCracker]

This Amendment is absurd.

And I'm sorry for any of the heterosexual couples who feel their marriage is threatened by a gay couples' love.

By your standards, why are you not pushing adultery and divorce to be banned via the State Constitution? Or does that hit too close to home?

Thought so.

at the age of 63, 3.32, i have heard JUST about every variation of your tired, old garbage used to justify just about every form of bigotry and hatred the world has experienced and witnesssed.

PLEASE STOP GIVING GOD the credit for your own apparently bottomless well of hatred, and take notE that EVERY TIME psychoogists inventoyr folks, the people who express the STRONGEST NEGATIVE REATIONS TO HOMOSEXUAITY ARE THOSE most stimulated BY HOMOSEXUAL IMAGERY!!

MAYBE YOU NEED TO INVENTORY YOUR OWN SEXUALITY, SWEETIE!!

=

Will you freaks stop picking on the homertesticles and lesbotarians. It’s not their fault their parents didn’t love them enough.

[Jason Straight]

Thanks to the many independants and progressives expressing opinions here ..Where have you been..The GOP supporters of this trash have been found out and are on the run!!Lets finish all of them off in november..Remember the last 8 years in Florida and the US Bush Family= Lies pain human suffering !

[Thsskipp!]

I’m with you, Jason… why should a homertesticle get away with smoking another’s meat whistle, without having to lose half his sh*t… (npi) Same goes for the two-can-chews!

4:03 sorry but there's no compromise on what I said, my opinion is not "hatred" or "bigotry" but the truth. And I'm not attracted to the same genger; a failed hypotheisis.

This is not about "negativity" but about the order of Creation and the Natural order God created for mankind.

Starting with the book of Geneisis read about it. You are 63 have not figured this out?

you folks would have a lot more credibility if every post didn't digenerate into a foaming rant about bush.

Bush would have a lot more credibility if he didn't lie us into a war so his corporate buddies could profit from the death of young American men and women.

Vote YES!!!!!

10.16:

"This is not about "negativity" but about the order of Creation and the Natural order God created for mankind.

Starting with the book of Geneisis read about it. You are 63 have not figured this out?"

sorry to say, 10.16, but YOU ARE AMONG THE SAME people who also told us "gawwwd" created wimmens inferior to men and neegras inferior to even white wimmens -- maybe not even humanbeens!!

do you know there are TWO DIFFERENT CREATION STORIES in genesis, sweetie??

which one is RIGHT????

AGAIN, stop using god as an excuse for your fearhatredandbigotry!!

didja ever take notice that jesus LONGEST CONVERSATION IN THE BIBLE is with the woman at the well in john's gosple, and he reveals himself to the MOST OUTCAST of the outcasts??

what does your hatefearbigotryfilledbrain
make of that?

probably nothing, sadly!!!

[Mother Nature]

Bottom line: Two wrongs don’t make a right, and two men can’t make a baby! This passes with 63% at least.

why do you ignore LESBIANS, mom?

not only are you stupidhatfilledanbigoted but you are prejudiced agains wimmens!!

what a joke of a mother you are!!

seriously, "two wrongs...." is NOT an intelligent response, jackass!!

[Mother Nature]

You see, you pole smokers are always looking for a_s from some young guy named jack...

Hey, the two-can-chews can't make a baby either.

Right on the money 3:32. NAMBLA the ACLU and others like them just want to destroy traditional American culture while trying to gain acceptance for their views. The American people are becoming increasingly aware of them and beginning to push back.

[Sebastian Michael]

Marriage.. just one more thing for straight people to hold over our heads and say "haha, were above you, we have something you dont". its what separates us from the 'animals'. its of no consequence to anyone if gays marry. god made gays, its not a choice. so why are "conservatives" (yeah right) saying that gays marry is some horrible sin or abomination? do you think god made some of us gay so that we could be stoned, and beaten to death, and denied simple rights? we pay taxes too! were humans! HELLO!!!

nobody is preventing gays from getting married. Just from marrying each other...