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Gay marriage fight coming to airwaves and pulpits
Now
that vouchers and property tax reform have been given the boot, there's
still one highly volatile constitutional battle coming soon to a voting
booth near you: Gay marriage.
Amendment 2, a petition initiative spearheaded by social conservatives,
remains. It would add 37 words to the Florida Constitution: "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."
The fight will heat up in coming weeks, from local airwaves to pulpits.
On one side: Backers who say a constitutional ban is needed to ward off
"activist judges" and "homosexual groups" who might overturn existing
state law prohibiting same-sex marriages.
Michael Mayodomestic partnership benefits and other rights of unmarried couples,
both straight and gayAmendment 2 needs 60 percent voter approval to pass. The latest polls
indicate it will be close, with the measure falling just short of the
approval threshold and some voters undecided. A Quinnipiac University poll released Monday showed the amendment leading, 55-41 percent. A
Mason-Dixon poll in late August showed 57 percent support, with 7
percent undecided.
Amendment 2 opponents, through the coalition known as Florida Red and
Blue, have raised over $2 million and plan a television ad blitz.
Backers will counter with a grassroots campaign aimed at conservative
churches, the base that helped put the amendment on the ballot with
more than 600,000 signatures.
The Yes2Marriage group sent out an "urgent" e-mail last week calling on
pastors to preach in favor of the amendment on Oct. 19. It's calling
the date "Stand for Marriage Sunday." The group is also selling $150
"church action kits," with yard signs, bumper stickers, fliers, sample
sermons and a DVD to show in church.
Federal rules prohibit tax-exempt religious institutions from backing
political candidates, but discussion of issues is allowed in churches.
If I had a congregation, here is what my Oct. 19 sermon would be:
As a married heterosexual man who considers himself
enlightened, I don't understand the fuss over same-sex marriage.
Amendment 2 is titled "The Florida Marriage Protection Amendment," but
it should be called "The Florida Marriage Exclusion Amendment."
Like antiquated laws barring interracial marriages, a ban
on gay marriage doesn't protect the institution of marriage. It just
prolongs bigotry.
If gays can legally wed, it wouldn't impact my marriage in
the least. It just opens the marriage pool to more committed and loving
couples. Who could find that offensive?
By all means, religions have the right not to sanction or perform
same-sex marriages. And individuals have every right to consider them
wrong. My advice to them is simple: If you don't like gay marriage,
don't have one. And don't attend one.
But that doesn't mean anybody should be able to block one. If two
consenting adults want to get married, the state should allow it.
Anything else is discrimination, plain and simple.
And for those who argue same-sex marriage would open the door to
polygamy, incest or bestiality, read my lips. Marriage would be defined
as a partnership between two (2) adult humans who aren't closely
related. That would pretty much rule out a marriage between a father,
his 14-year-old daughter and four orangutans.
Say yes to love. Vote no on 2.
Michael Mayo's column runs Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
consenting adults want to get married, the state should allow it.
Anything else is discrimination, plain and simple." Thats all there is to say actually. Why is there so much trouble about that subject in your country.... its all so simple...... Thx sharing Martin!