Say No 2 Florida's Amendment 2- New TV Ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdpXCLE-KaY
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What is the language of the amendment?Florida Marriage Protection Amendment 2
"Inasmuch as a 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."
Who is behind this amendment?
Florida4Marriage is the primary group backing the amendment. They are an umbrella group for a far right coalition that includes representatives of the Florida Catholic Conference and Florida Baptist Convention. The group gets the bulk of its disclosed financial support from the Florida Republican Party.
What effect will it have is passed?
If passed, the amendment will ban all recognition and benefits for unmarried couples, straight and gay. It will block civil unions, domestic partnership and repeal existing protections and family benefits relied upon by millions of Floridians.
The amendment would have an especially harsh impact on Florida''s large senior population, many of whom form domestic partnerships rather than remarry after they are widowed in order not to risk losing essential benefits. Same-sex couples, who are already denied the right to marry by law, would now be denied the right to any kind of meaningful legal protection. The vague language in the amendment, "the substantial equivalent thereof", will plunge Florida into lawsuits, much as has happened in other states. In every instance around the country, those behind these amendments immediately seek to have it interpreted in the most restrictive way possible for all unmarried people.What has happened in other states that have passed similar amendments?
Passage of similar measures in other states has led to lawsuits from amendment backers, who work to restrict benefits for a wide range of people through the new Constitutional ban. In Michigan in 2006 domestic partnership protections were repealed. In Kentucky, amendment backers who publicly promised they were only reaffirming existing law are now working to eliminate a host of domestic partner benefits for employees at state-funded universities. There have even been attempts to deter private companies from extending domestic partnership benefits and lawsuits based on the amendments are aiming to dramatically restrict a wide range of family protections.
What laws already exist defining marriage in Florida?
Currently,Florida law prohibits marriages between persons of the same sex (s. 741.212(1), Florida Statutes), and defines “marriage†as the legal union between one man and one woman and provides that the term “spouse†applies only to a member of such a union (s. 741.212(1),(3), Florida Statutes). Florida also has a "Defense" of Marriage Law DOMA, that was adopted in 1997 and codified as s. 741.212, Florida Statutes.
If same-sex marriage is already illegal in Florida several times over, what are they really up to?
Two primary motives are driving this amendment and neither have anything to do with protecting anyones marriage or family. Those backing the amendment see this as an opportunity to eliminate any protections for unmarried Floridians - gay and straight - by stoking anti-gay sentiments. They want their religious beliefs to have the force of law by being embedded in the Florida Constitution. Others backing the amendment see it as a political tool to drive ultra-conservative voters to the polls in the hope that they will improve the prospects for conservative candidates in the November election. The Florida Republican Party is the single largest contributor to the initiative ($300,000) and State GOP Chair Jim Greer bragged that the amendment "will help turnout."
What can I do to help?
Talk to friends, family and neighbors about this amendment. Let people close to you know how this will hurt you and millions of unmarried Floridians who will be denied essential benefits if this measure is allowed to become law.
* Host a House Party- House Parties are a great way to raise awareness and money to help DEFEAT this amendment
* Become a Local Leader in the Fairness for All Families campaign Help organize Town Hall meetings, staff local outreach events, circulate our Pledge to Vote No! petition.
* Contact Statewide Field Director Joe Saunders at [email protected].
Say No 2 Florida's Amendment 2- New TV Ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdpXCLE-KaY
