Source:
The Sun-SentinelBy Aaron Deslatte | Tallahassee Bureau
February 2, 2008
TALLAHASSEE - Florida voters will be asked to decide in November whether to write a ban on same-sex marriage into Florida's Constitution.
The state Division of Elections made the surprise announcement late Friday, after the signature-petition drive launched more than two years ago by social conservative groups managed to beat the signature deadline to make the presidential election ballot.
The group pushing the ban collected more than 649,000 signatures — well over the 611,000 required to place a citizens' initiative before voters statewide.
However, another hot-button proposal called the Florida Hometown Democracy that sought to limit growth by requiring public votes on development decisions fell 60,000 signatures short by Friday's deadline.
Read more:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/sfl-flfgay0202sbfeb02,0,3657518.story
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Poll:
How will you vote?
Do you approve or disapprove of the citizen initiative to ban gay marriage?
I approve of the initiative to ban gay marriage (177 responses)
38.3%
I disapprove of the initiative to ban gay marriage (275 responses)
59.5%
I am undecided on the issue (10 responses)
2.2%
o 462 total responses (Results not scientific)
See also:
Florida: “marriage protection” amendment will be on the Nov. ballot
Posted by Pam Spaulding February 2, 2008 in Uncategorized, GLBT, Election, Family Matters
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Yes, this is going to be an election issue yet again, in a state that has been critical in deciding who ends up in the White House, placed in the center of the marriage equality storm. It cannot be avoided. It will force the intellectually dishonest leave-it-to-the states folks to answer for the ability of Florida to deny civil rights to a group of taxpaying residents.
Nadine Smith of Equality Florida and the Fairness for ALL Families Campaign urges people to reach out and educate voters on the issue; since the amendment would do away with existing domestic partnership protections. In a state like Florida, with many retirees, this can resonate with them as it did in Arizona, the only state that has turned away an amendment at the polls (in 2006). During primary day in Florida this week, members of Fairness went out to engage voters on the issue.
More:
http://pandagon.blogsome.com/2008/02/02/florida-anti-gay-marriage-amendment-will-be-on-the-nov-ballotAlso:
Florida Primary Battleground Over Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: January 29, 2008 - 11:00 am ET
(Miami, Florida) A heavy voter turnout Tuesday for the Florida primary became an opportunity for supporters and opponents of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in the Sunshine State.
Backers of the proposed amendment have been scrambling to find 20,000 signatures by Thursday to get the measure on November's ballot after the Secretary of State announced earlier this month that a counting mistake put them well short of the required 611,000 signatures needed. (story)
Members of Florida4Marriage fanned out at polling stations in Miami-Dade where the error occurred, urging people to sign the petitions.
The amendment says, "Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."
Florida already has a law restricting marriage to opposite-sex couples.
More:
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/01/012908flamar.htmAnd:
Florida Coalitions Warn Primary Voters About Anti-Gay Amendment
by Kilian Melloy
EDGE Contributor
Wednesday Jan 30, 2008
The Jan. 29 primary that saw John McCain beat out Mitt Romney in Florida also brought legions of Floridians to the polls to combat an anti-gay constitutional amendment that opponents say would also hurt heterosexual families.
Volunteers and staff from organizations and coalitions opposed to the so-called Marriage Protection Amendment worked the polling place crowds on Tues., Jan. 29, talking to voters about the impact the amendment might have on families of all sexual persuasions if the amendment were to land on the ballot for the general election and be approved by Florida voters next November.
<snip>
Nadine Smith of Fairness for All Families, a coalition of over 200 organizations that opposes the amendment, wrote in an editorial that even conservatives have their doubts about the amendment, which, it is feared, could lead to unmarried heterosexuals--especially among the more vulnerable older demographic--losing access to health and other benefits.
Smith also wrote that the amendment is essentially a means of rallying right-wing voters.
More:
http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=55574