Florida Trend, the self-described "magazine of Florida business," has an October cover story about Florida's six proposed constitutional amendments.
Featured on the cover: Two women's clasped hands representing Florida's marriage amendment. Left out of the story is mention of how passage of Amendment 2 would also affect unmarried heterosexual couples.
If Amendment 2 passes, it likely would invalidate all government-recognized domestic partner benefits regardless of sexual orientation. Said Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, who recently became state advisory board co-chair of Florida Red & Blue, the group opposing the amendment:
“I don’t see how this amendment protects anything,” said Mayor Diaz. “Even worse, it’s vague language could actually take away important existing benefits like health care from Floridians.”
Another issue with the Florida Trend piece: It names seven proponents of the marriage amendment and only three opponents.
From a recent news release announcing Diaz's opposition to Amendment 2:
In opposing Amendment 2, Mayor Diaz joins other Florida leaders who oppose Amendment 2, including Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Rep. Luis Garcia, Miami-Dade Commissioners Bruno Barreiro and Carlos Gimenez, and other Miami-area leaders.
The Miami Beach City Commission recently condemned Amendment 2 during its July 16 meeting. Sponsored by Mayor Matti Herrera Bower, the motion was made by Commissioner Richard Steinberg and approved 7-0.
The League of Women Voters, the NAACP, Florida’s Professional Firefighters and the Florida Education Association are among the informed organizations opposing Amendment 2.
Here's the Florida Trend story. Decide for yourself whether the story is complete and fair:
November's ballot includes six proposed constitutional amendments, from a ban on gay marriage to a tax break for working waterfronts. Here's a guide.
By AMY KELLER
Amendment 2
Gay Marriage BanSponsor: John Stemberger, chairman of Florida4Marriage.org (now called Yes2Marriage.org)
Title: Florida Marriage Protection AmendmentWhat it does: Defines marriage as the legal union of only “one man and one woman as husband and wife.” If passed, it would ban gay marriage and civil unions and could endanger publicly recognized domestic partnerships if they are deemed to be “substantially equivalent” to marriage. Miami Beach, Gainesville, West Palm Beach, Key West as well as Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties all have domestic partner registries.
Background: While Florida law prohibits same-sex marriage and defines marriage as the legal union between one man and one woman, backers of Amendment 2 say putting it in the state Constitution is necessary to protect the state’s marriage law from a legal challenge. The initiative was spearheaded by John Stemberger, an Orlando personal injury lawyer, and funded in part by the Republican Party of Florida.
A major point of conflict is the how domestic partnerships would be affected by prohibiting unions that are the “substantial equivalent” of marriage. Stemberger’s group insists that the measure “does not invalidate the small bundle of rights granted by existing domestic partnerships in Florida.” But opponents say the wording of Amendment 2 is similar to a constitutional amendment that Michigan passed in 2004 and which the Michigan Supreme Court later ruled prohibits employers like universities and cities from extending benefits to domestic partners.
An analysis of the amendment by the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research raises the possibility of that result in Florida, saying that terminating marriage-equivalent partnerships “could place registrants at risk of losing specified rights and benefits, such as those related to health insurance.” The amendment would not affect benefits offered or contracted in the private sector.
Proponents: Florida Baptist Convention, Florida Catholic Conference, Florida Christian Coalition, Liberty Counsel, Florida Family Action and Exodus International, Yes2Marriage.org
Opponents: Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R), Human Rights Campaign, Florida Red and Blue Committee (sponsor of the Say No 2 campaign), Florida AFL-CIO
Financial impact: Undetermined, but probably minor
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A Quinnipiac University poll found that Florida voters support 55% to 41% a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman. Republicans back the measure 76% to 21%; independents oppose it 51% to 44%; and Democrats oppose it 51% to 45%.
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