This is perhaps one of the most disgusting attempts by state government to remove the rights of its citizens I have ever read, seen, or heard about. And it's all happening right here in our sunny little state of Florida. Bless True Majority (truemajority.org) for sending me an email alerting me to this travesty of justice (incidentally, you can go there and see Ben from Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream tell you about nuclear missiles and federal spending!).
It's called Amendment 2 officially, but it's also known as the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment. The name itself is even a joke because it does NOTHING to "protect marriage" (as if marriage needed protection from gays or something). The outrage doesn't end there, though. Oh no. Not only does it refuse to allow gays or lesbians to marry, a fact that is already embedded in Florida law in several different measures (1), it also abolishes civil unions and domestic partnerships and all the benefits that go along with the same.
The exact wording is this:
"Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized." (2)
This type of wording would not only make homosexual MARRIAGES illegal, but it would also strip ALL civil unions and domestic partnerships of the benefits that are afforded them. Therefore, this amendment, riding high on homosexual hate, would actually affect many heterosexual couples as well. The elderly are especially vulnerable as many choose to form domestic partnerships after they are widowed rather than remarrying and giving up some crucial benefits.
The sad thing is that legislators who support this bill are banking on the hope that Floridians will despise homosexuals enough not to look too closely at this. They're selling it as an "anti-gay marriage" measure rather than an "anti-civil union" measure, and hoping that hatred will blind 60% of the population into voting yes.
DON'T GET DUPED!! Florida ALREADY bars gays from marriage and adoption, a fact which several organizations are working to change, but this goes above and beyond even that (3)(4)(5). Read these FAQs to learn more about how WONDERFULLY banning civil unions has worked in other states(6).
November 4th this is going to be on the ballot, folks. If you live in Florida, vote NO and tell our legislature that we won't tolerate this kind of discriminatory action in America. If you want to stay informed, click any of the links and they will lead you to some great groups who are working hard to keep this from getting into law.
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Florida
(2) http://www.equalitygiving.org/Florida-Gay-Marriage-Consitutional-Amendme...
(3) http://www.equalitygiving.org/
(4) http://www.votenoflorida.org/default.aspx
(5) http://archive.uua.org/news/2004/freedomtomarry/florida.html
(6) http://www.votenoflorida.org/template.aspx?id=294
;'(
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
I couldn't have said it better myself. It's a disgrace to live in this state.
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Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress. --Mahatma Gandhi
My Blog: http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/kablock
My PhotoBlog: http://takingpictures.wordpress.com
Can we just secretly evacuate people like you who are actually intelligent and then just blow Florida off the map?
Please?
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
Seriously?
That is absolutely ridiculous!
What is this country coming too...
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
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The Story of Myself
Quite frankly, I don't have a single dang clue. It seems just...mean-spirited and pointless to me.
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Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress. --Mahatma Gandhi
My Blog: http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/kablock
My PhotoBlog: http://takingpictures.wordpress.com
...but I'm pretty sure Florida is not the only pointless, mean-spirited state out there.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
Yeah, when I did some more research, I read that they've done this before in other states but I'd never heard of it before this. It's amazing what can get past American voters...
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Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress. --Mahatma Gandhi
My Blog: http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/kablock
My PhotoBlog: http://takingpictures.wordpress.com
I'm pretty sure Ohio did the same thing, minus the "gays can't adopt" thing. They banned all kinds of "marriages" that weren't "traditional." Florida doing it just makes it worse because of all the nonsensical logic-bile that's been spewing from that state lately. I pity those of you on this site that live there.
I still want to know how your being gay kills my straight marriage...
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
you all need to come down to cali. It's alll legal. :]
Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul.
I've come to the realisation that many times there are hate crimes against all humanity by those proclaiming to protect humanity. Namely, they do it in the name of , then tout it around as a religious crusade. It makes me sick to be even considered American.
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You can't ignore me, for I'll not lie down quietly.
http://insanitek.net
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I hear you. On more than one occasion, I've seriously considered moving to another country and staying there...
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
--
The Story of Myself
That's just sad.And about the adoption thing: there are enough children in the world without parents. If a gay couple wished to give a child a good home, why stop that from happening? It seems like legislations passed for the majority really hurt a lot of people.
~ *~
This is a signature, an automated thingy that pops up when I comment, not a demand to see my blog!
Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
I completely agree about the adoption thing. We have enough problems getting kids adopted, especially older kids, that having another loving home that they could go to seems like a great idea to me.
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Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress. --Mahatma Gandhi
My Blog: http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/kablock
My PhotoBlog: http://takingpictures.wordpress.com
This is terrible. I honestly don't think I could ever understand what would drive someone to be so against an action that doesn't affect them. I just don't see how a homosexual marriage would ever affect a hetero marriage. It's one of those things that I simply just don't get.
Click here to read about new ways to save money and the environment that you have never heard!
I don't get it either. Even more, I don't get the religious people who feel the need to inflict their beliefs on everyone through the government...
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Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress. --Mahatma Gandhi
My Blog: http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/kablock
My PhotoBlog: http://takingpictures.wordpress.com
What makes this even worse is that things like this not only are an outrage, but those religious people being unreasonable through the government give a lasting impression to the non-religious (well, a good chunk of the non-religious fol, at least, from my experience), and then some of us who aren't like that in the least take the brunt of their anger when we try to discuss our beliefs in a respectful and not-forcing-our-faith-on-others manner. Grr...
This is going to cause problems all around if it actually gets passed... and I pray it doesn't.
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
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The Story of Myself
I begin to wonder if such legislation could make discrimination and hate crimes]more common, simply because it reinforces the idea that the majority doesn't like gays/gay marriage. And heck, the "SuperBowl Phenomenon" is something that tells us only 1% of people in a specific group are active, while 99% are passive (in other words, just following that one percent). Everyone just follows the crowd thought, so laws against a specific group of people could only make things worse.
~ *~
This is a signature, an automated thingy that pops up when I comment, not a demand to see my blog!
Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
Frankly, I think the laws themselves are hate crimes, but you're right, it definitely gives credence to the idea that gays are second-class citizens, which could increase personal acts of hate.
Really, it's just a really really really bad idea to let this pass on so many different fronts.
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Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress. --Mahatma Gandhi
My Blog: http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/kablock
My PhotoBlog: http://takingpictures.wordpress.com
What, may I ask, are these people so afraid of? I have never heard a valid argument from a homophobic person.
When they try, it ends up being religious. From there it becomes clear that they do not understand that our founding fathers came here in search of religious freedom because they were being forced to practice/believe in one way.
Ironic is not the word.
Also, it is shocking, SHOCKING, how many Americans will stand by their religiously-based nonsense claims and simply not understand a single word found in the First Amendment of our constitution.
You shouldn't be allowed to vote unless you understand the fundamentals of our constitution.
I, for one, will not stand by and watch as I am disadvantaged by other people's stupidity and arrogance.
Separate but equal is unconstitutional.
"Why can't you just go live quietly out of sight, why must you impose on OUR MARRIAGES"
- Tell you what, give me the over 1,200 rights that come with marriage and then we might have a deal.
D.F.A.
ThereWentTheWorld
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." -F.N.
I have no clue what they're so afraid of either. It's completely irrational and there really is no other argument for it other than religious. To me, it can be broken down into the simple terms you have used: separate but equal is unconstitutional. It's prejudice injected into our legislation, pure and simple.
It's also amazing how many people will probably vote yes on this amendment simply because it hurts gays, without thinking of the consequences it would have for heterosexual couples, without thinking of the suffering it's going to cause, and completely blinded by their hatred. They seriously need to take some lessons in tolerance before they go to the polls.
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Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress. --Mahatma Gandhi
My Blog: http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/kablock
My PhotoBlog: http://takingpictures.wordpress.com
I'd be happy with reading and reading comprehension lessons, first. A good chunk of those "yes" votes would be eliminated from sheer virtue of reading what the bill will actually do.
I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do. ~D. Dale Gulledge
Yeah, but that would take too long. They would have to offer holographic stickers- or better yet, lollipops-to get people to put that much time into voting. :)
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In Wisconsin, another state where gay marriage is against the law, there is an old law on the books from 1915 that states that any Wisconsinite who goes to another state for a marriage that is not recognized in Wisconsin can be arrested. It was established to prevent underage marriages and interracial marriages, but now people are looking into the possibility of arresting gays and lesbians who go to California to get married. They could get 9 months in jail and 50,000 in fines. Effed up, man.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
Oh, yes! Increased state powers sounds like a delightful idea!
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/moose3642
It's not as bad as the wording in places like Virginia and Ohio:
With this wording, not only are homosexuals disallowed the fiscal and matrimonial advantages, but unmarried heterosexual domestic abuse victims might not be able to recieve preliminary injunctions, forcing them to make the choice between leaving their home and assets or stay with the abuser.
Not to say that the Florida amendment is good. It sucks. But it could be a lot worse.
--Mike
I hate that government tries to control the personal lives of others. What a bunch of bull. Not only that, but telling someone what they can and cannot do with their own benefits is bull as well. Sometimes people just do not make any sense.
I just read an article on the Indiana governement finally overturning the law that said it was okay to "fix" any criminal or person with lower IQ's to weed out the "bad" genetics. I am glad it was finally overturned, but the fact that these sterilizations had gone on at all is completely ridiculous. Many people were sterilized that were not even slow in any way. One woman had her daughter sterilized and told her it was an appendectomy. She was afraid her daughter would get pregnant and she would have to take care of the baby. The when the poor girl got married and wanted children, she was completely shocked at what her mother had done. All her mother had to say was that she had a learning disability and that was enough to dictate that she was not worthy of ever being a mother. There are just some things that government should just butt out of.
according to Gandhi ji-HONEST DISAGREEMENT IS OFTEN A GOOD SIGN OF PROGRESS.What makes this even worse is that things like this not only are an outrage, but those religious people being unreasonable through the government.
JENIFER20
*edited for spam 07/25/08 by ediblewoman
In Oregon they banned gay in 2004 through the initiative process. Huge smear campaign and tons of lying. I even received a phone call telling me that homosexuals are the number one group that sexually abuses children. The truth is that heterosexual males are the biggest group.
Recently Civil Unions passed in Oregon. This seems odd to me. I guess the idea if you do not call it marriage makes it OK (I don't believe the average person knows what limitations come with a Civil Union). Oregon is one of the least Churched States with around 30% going to church on a regular bases but it shows how fear can make people vote for an absurd law. I do not understand why people fear gay people? I guess like racism, its just not logical and has deep roots in how you are raised.