Optimism about marriage amendment
TALLAHASSEE - A proposed constitutional amendment that would protect traditional marriage is one step closer to being on the ballot in Florida, USA. In addition, the last of eight cases filed in the state by advocates of same-sex unions challenging current marriage laws has been withdrawn.
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The Florida Supreme Court has issued a 7-0 opinion clearing the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment for placement on a statewide ballot once the 611,009 signatures in support of the measure are certified. The amendment states that „inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.”
Liberty Counsel president Mat Staver, who argued the case for the amendment, explains that the Florida high court rejected arguments by the American Civil Liberties Union. „The ACLU argued that this amendment addressed two subjects: marriage, and civil unions and domestic partnerships”, Staver says. „They said people would be in favor of voting for marriage, but may not be in favor of banning civil unions. The Supreme Court rejected that argument and said that this amendment is about the singular purpose of marriage and maintaining and preserving the protections and obligations of marriage.”
Specifically, the court ruled that in voting for or against the measure, voters are „merely being asked to vote on the singular subject of whether the concept of marriage and the rights and obligations traditionally embodied therein should be limited to the union of one man and one woman.”
„This is an amendment that protects marriage as the union of one man and one woman”, Staver explains. „It also bans same-sex marriage, polygamy, or group marriages, and it bans same-sex marriage or any other kind of relationship under a different name.”
The attorney is optimistic about how the amendment will fare at the ballot box. „Very soon the remaining signatures will be certified, and the people of Florida will vote”, he says. „I have no doubt that this marriage amendment will pass by an overwhelming majority.” He cites statewide votes across the country on amendments protecting traditional marriage. He contends that when voters are permitted a choice, „they always choose marriage as the union of only one man and one woman.” (AgapePress)
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