No. 2: Marriage protection
Florida law already prohibits what this amendment seeks to ban: gay marriage. So the only thing it would do is enshrine discrimination in our state constitution. This amendment is mean-spirited and misguided.
It targets gay and lesbian couples, but it would cause grief and suffering to other couples, whether they're gay or not. That's because of ambiguous language that says any legal union that is the ''substantial equivalent'' of marriage would not be recognized.
This would jeopardize the benefits and health insurance that many companies provide to unmarried, heterosexual couples.
The amendment threatens the property rights of elderly people who live together for convenience, economics and safety. Hospital-visitation rights of unmarried couples would be at risk. The amendment doesn't protect marriage and threatens many lifestyle choices.
We recommend a NO vote.
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We all know what this amendment is on the ballot for. It has nothing to do with gay marriage. Its on the ballot to get the christian right to the polls to elect McCain as president. The republican party needs Florida just as they needed Ohio last election when this amendment was on their ballot.
Posted by: Joe | October 12, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Right you are Joe! Just like the popular animated television episode of Family Guy.
Click to Read Florida Gay Marriage Ban & Family Guy-Life Imitating Art
http://www.gaysofla.com/content/view/212/60/
DLW
Posted by: David L. Wylie | October 12, 2008 at 06:36 PM
Florida law already prohibits what this amendment seeks to ban: gay marriage. But, activist justices in the state's supreme court could redefine marriage like they have done in Massachussets, California and Connecticut. The only thing it would do is enshrine the current definition of marriage in our state constitution.
The unanimous Supreme Court of Florida, when approving the language of this amendment, said that it would only place the existing statutory scheme regarding marriage and place it in the constitution for a similar effect. The Court said that this amendment is not about about benefits but about the singular subject of marriage.
It would not prohibit any government agency or private entity to provide benefits to whomever they may wish.
The current Florida domestic partnerships are not the substantial equivalent of marriage and one may grant more rights, benefits and privileges with a Power of Attorney off the Internet than with a Domestic Partnerships.
Nobody has ever lost a single benefit due to a marriage amendment. But three state supreme courts have redefined the definition of marriage and subjected children to a vast untested social experiment.
I recommend a YES vote.
Posted by: Raf | October 15, 2008 at 03:34 PM