The Battle in Florida is Joined-Amendment #2

This will be the first in what I expect will evolve into a series of articles related to the upcoming election and the vote on Constitutional Amendment #2. This is the krazy kristian kooks attempt to have a large conservative turnout in Florida, so instead of fielding a worthy candidate, they go for the divisive issue. Amendment #2 is, of course, a “marriage protection” amendment for the Florida Constitution.

The amendment says:

Inasmuch as marriage is the 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.

Of course, setting aside the obvious intent of this group to denigrate gay relationships and enshrine discrimination into the Florida Constitution, this amendment, if equally enforced, can hurt lots of unmarried straight couples. Some people clearly elect not to get married until they have been “coupled” for a few years. And here in Florida especially, there are a lot of widows and widowers who live together to pool resources. Some of these people might marry, but for the fact that certain types of benefits received by one or both would be reduced or eliminated.

I’m really sick and tired of a big deal being made of this issue by the religious right and the Republicans using it as an issue to do nothing more than get “the base” out to vote for their guys. I’ve heard this crap about the “gay agenda” until I’m sick to death of it, and I’ll give $100 to anyone who can actually tell me how allowing a gay couple to be married will actually damage “the institution of marriage.”

I stand in agreement with the editor of The Gazette, a gay rag here in Florida, that we will not be able to rely on the professional gay rights organizations.  They have had no success in Florida getting any gay-favorable legislation passed, and they have failed to turn back every single anti-gay law. They are certainly sending out the fund raising solicitations. (I’m on the mailing list for most of them.) I’m sure a lot of people will write a check, and feel like they’ve done their part , but that’s going to be enough. This is going to take direct neighborhood action.

I’ll write more later about what I intend to do. Nothing could be better than to deliver a defeat on this issue to krazy kristian kooks right here in the gold-buckle of the Bible belt.