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09/13/08-09/15/08

Miami Comes Out Against Antigay Amendment 2

Without mentioning the word gay, the city of Miami sent out a press release demonstrating its official opposition to Florida's Amendment 2, which if passed would constitutionally ban same-sex marriage and possibly invalidate domestic partnerships in the Sunshine State.

The city urged voters to reject the November ballot measure, declaring that Amendment 2 "could have dramatic consequences for Florida's committed adults who form domestic partnerships, including unmarried seniors, eliminating their ability to share important health care and pension benefits."

Miami-Dade County has Florida's largest registry of domestic partners. Amendment 2 could undo the benefits of these domestic partnerships by prohibiting the state from recognizing anything that is "treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof."

Many South Florida power players came out against Amendment 2, which was put on the ballot after a petition drive garnered 650,000 signatures. Miami mayor Manny Diaz, Republican congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the League of Women Voters, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are just some of the leaders and groups who publicly oppose Proposition 2.

Florida's governor Charlie Crist -- who has had gay rumors follow him for years -- said he supports Amendment 2, but would not campaign for it. Sixty percent of voters are needed to pass Amendment 2 but recent polls indicate only 55% of voters support it. (The Advocate)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Daisy
    Date posted: 2008-11-24 9:21 AM
    Hometown: Hollywood, FL

    Comment:

    Well what can I say, but true, true, and true, living is Pembroke Pines, where the Mayor, Vice Mayor, and majority of the remaining commissioners are bigoted, hate monger, homophobics, who believe gays are sinners and perverts. Says Carl Shechter, Ronald Pacella, Frank Orts, and Thomas Donnelly, "they corrupt the ambiance of our community, are a disease caring plague, and if "we" let them into our community, they will be corrupt our children and way of life, so says the Mayor and Vice Mayor of Pembroke Pines.


  • Name: torqueflite
    Date posted: 2008-09-15 3:32 PM
    Hometown: Niwot, Colorado

    Comment:

    Ten newspapers in FL have editorialized against Amendment 2, according to Florida Red & Blue. No papers have endorsed it. However, the MIAMI HERALD is not on record. Has anyone heard what is the position that the HERALD takes on Amendment 2?


  • Name: David F
    Date posted: 2008-09-15 1:59 PM
    Hometown: Pensacola

    Comment:

    Unfortunately. I have to agree with James about the situation of INTOLERANCE in the sate of FL. I live in Pensacola, where each year we celebrate Memorial Day weekend gleefully, unfortunately. the hate-mongers are ever present. It's a sad situation in which FL will tax us yet not give us equal rights. I may be mistaken but FL is the only state (or at least one of the very few) that has a LAW BANNING ADOPTION BY GAY people. Sarah P. is pro-life, and that's great...she speaks out encouraging adoption as opposed to having an abortion...will SHE help change this discriminatory law? HMM. With her Assembly of God affiliation, I kinda doubt it. They want to cast the "demon of homosexuality" out of us.


  • Name: james
    Date posted: 2008-09-14 4:27 PM
    Hometown: tampa

    Comment:

    i live in florida and i can tell you it will pass. this state , contrary to what they would have people believe, is a hateful bigoted place. the majority of the state is rednecks with a capital R. if i had the economic means i would be out of here. i really wish other gays would do a boycott, no pensacola memorial day, no disney gay days etc. these bigots understand nothing but hate and money.


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