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)