Rallies against Amendment 2 set

The Hillsborough County GLBTA Democratic Caucus has scheduled what it calls a "Shame On 2 Rally" for 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Joe Chillura Courthouse Square in downtown Tampa. A press release says the rally is for "Frustrated and Disillusioned Fair-Minded Floridians" who opposed the amendment that bans gay marriage in Florida. The amendment passed by a large margin during the general election.

According to the press release: "Voters may have succeeded in enshrining religious beliefs into our state's constitution. However, promises were made that existing domestic partner benefits and rights of heterosexual and same-gender couples would not be stripped away. Our presence at the rally will serve to remind voters of these promises and that they must be kept."

Organizers say the rally coincides with events scheduled throughout Florida and other parts of the country. In St. Petersburg, the rally begins at 1:30 p.m. at Mirror Lake.

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Comments

Will Ex-Congressman Mark Foley going to be there?

Next marriage battle will take place in the U.S. Supreme Court surrounding DOMA.

fair 'nuf

When did the GLBT folks pick up another letter (A)? What freaks did they invite into their big diverse tent this time. Don't they realize the alphabet soup only reinforces the slippery slope paranoia and is probably why they lost amendment 2...

What does the "A" stand for?

yawn...

[Samuel Powers]

Seems like they are holding this rally about two weeks too late. Who are they trying to convince?

At least they aren't being like the idiots in California.

Aren't they a little behind the curve?

Look folks, protest all you want. The bottom line as I see them are:

1) Being a GLBT is a lifestyle choice, not worthy of Constitutional Protections.

2) People voted; you lost. Complain all you want. Unless you can do the AMERICAN thing and convince enough people to support your position; nothing changes.

All the BS going on does not change these facts.

Well, let me correct that: It is what it is until you get enough leftist judges in place to over rule the will of the people. In my opinion, this is the only way the GLBT will get their way since most Americans do not support the agenda.

and now onto other news:

The DOW reached ZERO today. Obama says higher taxes and government ownership of all businesses is the only logical answer.

Full marriage equality will come. The young voters are cool with it.

Why do we have to call it marriage? I think thats the whole issue here.

What does the "A" stand for?

Posted by: | November 13, 2008 at 11:39 AM

I believe A is for Allies

and that is why I'll be there...

11:55 - The problem with your statement is that young voters don't vote on Election Day.

it seems to me that 50% of young people are either:

G-L-B or T

Wow, notice how many Blogs about the new King? Nothing in the top 20?

I guess there is nothing more to talk about, so lets move to the culture war for a diversion.

FoxNews and the radio crazies are already blaming the yet-to-be-sworn-in Obama adminstration for the Wall Street mess. The nitwits still can't come to terms with the colossal screw-up caused by Republican rule. Face it, repiggies, you had your chance at total "governance" and you failed spectacularly. Look at Bush/Cheney trying to slink off into the sunset, with not a clue between the two crooks about what to do.

I am a graduate student, and I know a lot of kids who voted this past week. Religious "conservatives" claim to be fighting for morality in this nation, but they commit the most immoral acts against the poor and the unfortunate in our nation. They are favorable to constant militarism, and their only concern is for the welfare and safety of the wealthy. So many young people see this inherent contradiction.

Let us know when you get a real job grad student and you can put your money where your mouth is.

**crickets**

12:20: Statistically, the youth don't vote. Every year they say "this is going to be the year" and every Presidential cycle the youth don't show up.
(of course there are exceptions but the data doesn't lie)

[Doug]

11:52:

Really? A "lifestyle choice"? I feel sorry for people who really believe what you appear to believe and can't accept the world and people for the way it is and they are, I really do. Ignoring facts and basic truths doesn't make them go away, though maybe it is comforting to you somehow.

[joe]

I want to know how many people would have supported this abomination if, instead of using the word "gay", the word "black" or "mexican" or "irish" or "catholic" or "chinese" or "indian" or "okie" or "japanese" or "quaker" or...were used? Could anyone imagine a law that forbade a black man from marrying a white woman? or a Catholic from marrying a Protestant? Could anyone imagine a law that denied education to the Chinese or Irish? Could anyone imagine a law that pushed the Native Americans or Japanese-Americans off their land? Or a law that prohibited Okies or Mexicans from getting a job???? Certainly not!!!...oops....ahem....
My point being, at one point in time, this "land of the free" is not so free for everyone. Isn't it about time we get over that bigotted hateful mindset?

12:57, Jesus is wondering why your fat behind is on this blog and not out doing his work with the poor and the hungry.

[Samuel Powers]

The youth did show up and vote this year. And the anti-gay marriage amendment passed.

This is not a civil rights issue. Gays have all the rights as strait people. Just not in the way that they want them...

Blacks, First Nations people, catholics, Jews, Mexicans, etc did not have those same rights to own property, petition their government for grievances, and other "civil rights." Over 60% of Floridians believe this to be true. Go to connecitut and don't let the door hit you on the way out. As for all the "money" you pump into the economy. We don't need it. Too high of a effort to reward ratio.

This issue is resolved....next issue please.

[Dr_Dug]

They wanted the vote and got it!! The people have spoken and want the gays to go back to the closet...without special rights. Hahahahahahaha

[joe]

2:13....over 60% of Floridians once believed slavery was alright...
PS. I've always loved the "love thy neighbor, but get out if you don't agree with me mentallity". It's one of those Sunday school sermons I know well....oops....I don't actually recall being taught hatred and bigotry in my Sunday school, I wonder what's happened in the past few years...

Are you saying that being gay = slavery? Are you saying that gay people do not have the right to own property or petition their government for grievances. Of course they do. This is why nobody is buying your argument.

Joe, could you cite your source on the assertion that "60% of Floridians once believed slavery was alright?"

Also, do I understand correctly that your position is that a man who wants to practice a certain type of sexual activity and is allowed to do so with only the stipulation that he cannot call it "marriage" is the equivalent of a man who is kidknapped, sold, treated as property, forced to perform labor and have his children become the property of his owner? Please correct me if I have misunderstood.

[joe]

3:16 I'm saying DISCRIMINATION = DISCRIMINATION. And yes, I'm saying that, based on the precedent of this amendment, gay people may one day be barred from owning property or voting. To parallel another CIVIL RIGHTS struggle, I recall that blacks were given the right to vote shortly after the Civil War. But we all know the truth. Blacks were also allowed to ride in the same traincars as whites and dine at the same restaurants until Jim Crow reared its ugly head.
So, you see, there's always the possibility of one group's desire to override the rights of others.
4:46 -Of course I'm not comparing the plight of slaves to the plight of gays...I'm holding up, to you blind souls, the importance of EQUALITY...you do misunderstand. But, I'm not sure you know what your misunderstanding is. What gives you the right to deny a consentual union between any two humans? (Again, I use the example of the Florida laws - among other states - that once banned a black from marrying a white...even into the 1960s, when blacks were as free as whites and had the right to petition their government...) What gives you the right to deny hospital visitations, inheritence, mutual healthcare benefits, social security benefits to any one?
Bigotry is always blind...and honestly, I don't expect you to ever come around...until you have that conversation with Jesus on your last day...then maybe you'll understand the peace and love He tried to teach us.

John Stemberger -- Chief Florida Merchant of Hate and Prejudice.

Joe, you mentioned in your post "any two humans?" Am I correct in my understanding of your belief that you endorse a limitation to what is called, "marriage?" (i.e. no more than two participants, both must consent and both must be human?)

Is there any rallies against Obama too?

What gives you the right to deny hospital visitations, inheritence, mutual healthcare benefits, social security benefits to any one?

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY AND MORE THAN 60% OF FlORIDIANS AND RESIDENTS OF 37 OTHER STATES UNDERSTAND THIS AND SEE STRAIGHT THROUGH THE HOLLIER THAN THOU ANGER RADICAL HOMOSEXUALS ARE SPEWING

Bigotry is always blind...and honestly, I don't expect you to ever come around...until you have that conversation with Jesus on your last day...then maybe you'll understand the peace and love He tried to teach us.

ENOUGH WITH THE INSULTING FAKE RELIGIOUS STUFF. WE ALL KNOW THAT GAY ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN BUM RUSHING CHURCH GATHERINGS AND VIOLATING CHURCH PROPERTY THIS PAST WEEK. WE KNOW THAT THE HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA IS NOT BASED ON OR RESPECTFUL OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SO ENOUGH OF IT ALREADY.

4:29 - IF YOU DON'T EARN RESPECT WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU DESERVE RESPECT?
(sorry for "YELLING"...but I guess that's what you understand).
And, by the way, I consider myself a good Christain, I love my Lord and my fellow brothers and sisters AND I pay attentions to the teachings of Jesus.
Finally, if you want to compare all gays with the activists (which I personally don't approve the "bum rushing of churches") than I shall compare you to the utterly disgusting slime of the earth bastar#ds that murdered Matthew Shepard, Ryan Smith and Jacob Robida just because they were gay. When was the last time a white man was slaughtered JUST BECAUSE he was straight?

5:15 come off the sensationalism. No one is arguing for the right to harm anyone because they are gay.

If those who support certain political, social or legal issues from a "gay rights" perspective believe in constructive dialouge and interaction in society then it is hard to understand why you are not out en masse protesting the anti-American behavior that has been on display recently.

Rioting and burning down parts of cities set back the civil rights movement a good 25 years. What the homosexual groups are doing now is going to roughly achieve the same result.

While some of us strongly disagree on the issue there are practical and beneficial measures that could/should be evaluated in order to provide all persons the ability to live their lives with liberty. However, redifining mariage from its traditional meaning is not one of them. There is no one being prevented from marrying a person of the opposite sex regardless of what their sexual interest may be. There is no discrimination.

Lets work to do what can be done and focus on making things better for everyone.

8:26 - If you truly want to work to make things better for everyone - then why not support civil unions/equal rights for gays? What harm does it do to you?
Reading some of these posts I now believe that "the sanctity of marriage" was NOT the reason many people suppoerted amendment 2 - I see anger, bigotry, fear and intolerance.

[Steve]

Joe, Your basic rationale is faulty. If you are denied property rights, (which I doubt), you will win in a court of law. And nobody denies you your other rights under the constitution. Your argument about black/white marriages omits the fact that it was denied out of bigotry, and has been remedied....but that we're still talking about a man and a woman.

Marriage is between a man and a woman so that the race can survive. Procreation is the underlying motivation. Let me explain something to you---that is why a man and woman are built differently, why only a woman can be pregnant, etc. It is natural evolution. Homosexuality is behavior that violates the nature of this relationship. Do what you will in your home with the consent of others. But don't try to get me to pay for your hospital bills because you claim to be "married" to a person of your own sex. It isn't true and never will be true.

Next battle:

Outlaw divorce in order to keep the sanctity of marriage.

[Uncle Lonnie]

The gays are demanding special rights not equal rights just as when they demand open gays in the armed forces or when they think they are exempt from the laws on public sex and indecent behavior in their gay rights parades.

Marriage by definition is between one man and one woman.

A man has no more right to marry a man than he has to have a harem, marry his daughter, son, father, mother etc.

Living wills, medical surrogates, etc give gay couples the same rights as married couples so their demand for marriage is so bogus on many counts.

10:48-(et al.)
I'd like to point out your ignorance on many, many levels:
1) humans do not have to be "married" to procreate...almost 40% of babies are now being born OUT OF WEDLOCK!(according to -none other than- FOX News)and even Sarah Palin's future grandchild was CONCIEVED OUT OF WEDLOCK!!!!! BAMMM there goes your marriage theory. Besides, many gay people have sired or bgiven birth to children.
2)"don't get me to pay your hospital bills"?!? - since, according to you, I cannot have children - why should I pay school taxes?!?!?!? HUH????
3)Trust me, I know men and women are built differently. But I do like the fact you acknowledge "evolution" (many Bible-thumpers don't).
4)You're right - the black/white marriage bans were born of bigotry and were corrected. But, back when those laws were passed, it was not seen as bigotry (do you get the correlation?)
5) Gays can, and have been, denied rights to housing and jobs...it's fact (google "gays denied housing" and you'll find evidence).
If you're gonna argue - do so intelligently, at least.

[ZekePTB]

Passage of Amendment 2, was not the will of the people, it was the will of their religious leaders.
It's absolutely shameless the people who claim to be God Loving Christians leaders would blatantly deceive and lie to their congregations. Preaching that if Amendment 2 failed, same-gender marriage would become legal in Florida and this would destroy the sanctity of marriage is despicable. I know this to be true, because I personally spoke to hundreds and hundreds of them during early voting. One after another, they all said the same thing, my pastor, reverend, priest, etc., told them this would happen. Given the chance to educate them, show them copies of existing Florida laws, they saw this was not the truth and voted against it. Sadly we didn't have the opportunity or the resources to overcome the religious rights well funded anti-gay propaganda machine. If we had, the 1.9% of voters that accounted for it's passage, very well could have voted differently and it would have failed. The bottom line this had nothing to do with legalizing gay marriage.

When promises made domestic partners benefits would not be stripped from both heterosexual and gay couples by Amendment 2, are broken. After a legal Christian legal agency files briefs to take them away and wins, such as happened in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Minnesota. Those who voted for this mean-spirited Amendment, will be responsible, as will the religious leaders who abused the trust to be truthful and honest to their congregations.

[Zeke Fread]

Steve: Your basic rationale is faulty, marriage is about a man and woman only and that procreation is the underlying motivation is offensive. Your putting less value on the marriages of heterosexual couples who are unable to or wish not to procreate or choose to adopt instead, then of the marriages of their counterparts who do procreate, shame on you. You anatomy class is not needed, I think we all know how men and woman procreate. Gays and Lesbians have been apart of society as long as civilization itself and the worlds population continues to grow. Have you considered that perhaps God created his gay and lesbian children to control population, we could very may be his special chosen children not heterosexuals. I get it, your all jealous of us for this.

Uncle Lonnie: Equal is equal, the same or equivalent of rights every other citizen receives. Equal rights are only special rights, to those who are denied them. Marriage offers 1300 or so benefits, protections and rights, that domestic partners and/or civil unions do not offer.

The sanctity and institution of marriage has been destroyed by heterosexuals, with now help from us gay folks. Considering 52% of all heterosexual marriages end in divorce, adultery is rampant, spousal abuse/domestic violence and single family parent households are at epidemic propositions. By allowing same-gender couples the same equal right to marry, would only serve to decrease the divorce rate dramatically.

I've been with my partner, soul mate and love of my life going on 30 years. Our monogamous committed relationship out lasted half the heterosexual marriages in the country. What possible effect would us being married have on any other peoples relationships. Are you so insecure of your own relationships, that, by denying us the equal right to marry makes yours stronger, I think not. As with all other civil rights issues for all Americans, the has to time comes when the people or goverment realizes religion has no right to dictate who does or does not deserve the same equal rights of others. It's wrong to deny any law abiding tax paying citizens their equal right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.