Bad news out of Florida this morning, readers. Anti-gay marriage activists Florida4Marriage.org claim they have enough signatures to put a constitutional ban on the ballot next November:
The proposal that defines marriage as “the legal union of only one man and one woman” was offered by a coalition called Florida4Marriage.org. It needed 611,009 signatures from registered voters to go on the ballot.
The amendment’s language was drafted by Matthew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, which advocates for religious civil liberties, and his wife, Anita. Liberty Counsel announced in a news release that the proposal had met the signature requirement.
That’s the last step to get on the ballot as the Florida Supreme Court already has ruled the proposal meets basic requirements of focusing only on one subject and offering voters a clear and accurate summary of what it would do.
The proposal will need a 60 percent majority at the polls to become part of the Florida Constitution.
The coalition now has until February 1st to turn over their paperwork and get the illiberal ball rolling…
Matt
If progressive and GLBT Floridians mobilize, it may not be too late. A similar signature drive was held to force a marriage amendment in Illinois, and thanks to large numbers of volunteers who scoured the petitions and voter rolls, we were able to invalidate enough of the signatures to stop the fundies’ efforts. They’re usually pretty sloppy about these mass-signature things.
Lone Ranger and Tonto
FL is where Anita Bryant and her buddy Falwell started their still successful ban on gay and lesbian adoptions in that state. That was over three decades ago. LG families can foster but not adopt.
Am I surprised? Nope. You don’t change laws when you stay home or go to circuit parties or go to the beach.
todd
Why do gay people even live in this state? It’s full of old conservative retirees and conservative ex-cubans. Yuck. Does your vote even count in Floriduh?
hisurfer
Can any legal scholars answer me this …
1) There are religions that recognize gay unions
2) Freedom of religion is protected in this country
3) Therefore, can’t a gay couple who has been married in a church challenge these laws as an unconstitutional backing of one religion over another?
Dan
LRaT: Just as a minor response to your comment, you do realise that Anita Bryant has since recanted her stance on us.
Adrian Ronald Masters
Why don’t we gay people create ballots in states (or werever) that fight the laws that regulate that a marriage is between a man and woman only?
If the religious terrorists can do it, why not we?
Fight them, the bigots, the religious extremists!