Why They're Wrong, Pt. 1

In a regular feature around here, I'll post various arguments from gay marriage opponents and why they're wrong...

This one is from The Baptist Press:

If you thought "gay marriage" was simply about equality, you'd be wrong.

...

The situation in California proves that "homosexual marriage" is not about simple equality. Domestic partnerships granted homosexuals the same benefits as heterosexual couples.

The Supreme Court ruled in 1954 that "separate but equal" is a false concept and that immediately upon separation, inequality exists. Ignore the fact that domestic partnerships don't have all the same legal benefits as marriage, simply calling it something else, by definition, treats it differently and as something lesser. You can tell that this is what the author actually believes by reading his closing line: "Yes, 'gay marriage' concerns a small minority seeking not only to validate their aberrant lifestyle, but also to force society to accept their behavior –- or else." He's trying to dress up his bigotry in rhetoric, but he's nothing more than someone who hates gay people because they are gay. That's wrong.

Gay Marriage Is Not On the November Ballot

Peter Tannen of the ACLU Gets it right:

This is explicitly a ban on "the substantial equivalent" of marriage, such as civil unions and domestic partnerships.

The backers of Amendment 2 are deliberately misleading the public by constantly calling it a ban on "same-sex marriage," and the media are reinforcing that misconception.

The wording of the proposed Amendment 2 here in Florida threatens the continuation of health insurance and other benefits provided by employers to many couples, straight or gay, young or old. In Michigan, which passed a similar constitutional amendment, the courts just decided that if you're not legally married, you can't be on your partner's medical plan, or have visiting rights at hospitals, or receive pension benefits.

...

"Gay marriage" will not be on the ballot in November -- rather, stripping away partnership benefits and health insurance for all unmarried Floridians will be decided.

This is how conservatives get majority votes -- they lie to the voters.

Thursday Challenge

We need you to help us out with our new blog/project The Hate Amendment. Here's what you can do:

1. Promote the site. Tell your family and friends about it. Put it on your blogroll. Post about it.

2. Join the site. We need more bloggers to blog against the hateful Amendment 2. Send me an e-mail at quinnelk@hotmail.com and I'll add you to the site.

3. Join our blogroll. If you have a blog and you oppose Amendment 2, let me know, and I'll add you to the blogroll. Again, e-mail me at quinnelk@hotmail.com.

4. Help us identify politicians who support or oppose the amendment. We keep a running tally here. We want it to eventually include all of the members of the cabinet, congressional delegation, legislature, their challengers and prominent local politicians. If you see an article, have a tip, or know one of these people, send me an e-mail. Again, quinnelk@hotmail.com.

5. Obviously, you can vote against the amendment in November and convince as many other people to vote against it as possible. We can defeat this hateful law, but only with your help.

Gay Marriage and The Florida Constitution

Ran across this old post at the defunct Know Thy Neighbor Florida blog and thought it was good enough that you should read it. I did not author this:

Today, I was compelled to just review our Constitution, I wondered what treasures lie therein that give me my rights and responsibilities as a citizen of Florida. I didn't get very far in my reading today, in fact, I got stuck at the Preamble. There is a huge lump in my throat, and honestly, I was nearly brought to tears when I read the very first part of our constitution.

How is it that we are even debating the rights of citizens, when it so clearly states the purpose of the constitution in the first line? What is happening?

PREAMBLE

"We, the people of the State of Florida, being grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, in order to secure its benefits, perfect our government, insure domestic tranquility, maintain public order, and guarantee equal civil and political rights to all, do ordain and establish this constitution."

It doesn't say some of the civil and political rights for some of the people,

It doesn't say partial civil and political rights for all of the people.

It doesn't say equal civil and political rights for only those designated by petition initiatives.

It doesn't say equal civil and political rights for everybody except...

It doesn't say equal civil and political rights for the majority opinion.

It doesn't say partial civil and political rights for the minorities.

It doesn't say equal civil and political rights for the majorities.

It doesn't say equal civil and political rights if you belong to a certain political party.

It doesn't say equal civil and political rights if you belong to a certain religion.

It doesn't say equal civil and political rights if you belong to a race or ethnic origin.

It doesn't say equal civil and political rights if you are heterosexual.

IT SAYS guarantee equal civil and political rights to all.

If Christ Church of Peace and it's members were standing up to fight for rights of heterosexual families, and advocating dialogue to help heterosexual families grow stronger - there would be no rhetoric, only expectation and appreciation that we are doing the right thing. But for many their focus is on the 'gay issue' and not the civil rights issue.

All people deserve equal rights, period, and it says in the Preamble to our constitution that was established to do so. Whether you agree with gay marriage or not, as a citizen of this great state and nation, surely you believe in the foundation that everyone is entitled to equal civil and political rights.

View the constitution by clicking here

Hate Amendment Supporters

Via the official Hate Amendment website, we find the following list of endorsees of the Amendment. (Why is it that the fundie website is significantly out of date and filled with typos?)

Charlie Crist
Frank Attkisson
Carey Baker
Donald Brown
Larry Cretul
Carl Domino
Greg Evers
Anitere Flores
Bill Galvano
Andy Gardiner
Gayle Harrell
Alan Hays
Dave Murzin
Pat Patterson
Joe Pickens
Ralph Poppell
Ray Sansom
Rhonda Storms
Dan Webster
Stephen Wise
Gus Bilirakis
Dave Weldon
Brian Blair, Hillsborough County Commissioner
Tom Henning, Collier County Commissioner
Andy Kesserling, Marion County Commissioner
Stan McClain, Marion County Commissioner

Cabinent Members: 0 against, 1 for
Members of Congress: 5 against, 2 for
Congressional candidates: 4 against the amendment, 0 for
Legislators: 15 against the amendment, 19 for
Legislative candidates: 4 against, 0 for
Local officials: 24 against, 4 for
Local candidates: 2 against, 0 for

More later.

Where Do They Stand Scorecard

Losing track of where all the politicians stand on the Hate Amendment? You can now check out the complete list as a stand-alone page in our wiki.

More Amendment Opponents

Via Florida Red & Blue, we discover more politicians who oppose Amendment 2. All of the following are on the board or advisory board of the organization:

Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee City Commissioner
Congressman Kendrick Meek
Congressman Robert Wexler
Congressman Ron Klein
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Congresswoman Kathy Castor
Senator Dave Aronberg
Senator Jeremy Ring
Senator Steve Geller
Senator Ted Deutch
Senator Tony Hill
Representative Dan Gelber
Representative Kelly Skidmore
Representative Ari Porth
Representative Loranne Ausley
Alan Brock, County Commission Candidate
Annette Taddeo, Congressional Candidate
Commissioner Craig Lowe, City of Gainesville
Commissioner Fran Russo, City of Hollywood
Commissioner Sue Gunzburger, Broward County
Horace G. Feliu, Mayor, South Miami
Mayor Frank Ortis, City of Pembroke Pines
Vice Mayor Stacy Ritter, Broward County
Representative Audrey Gibson
Representative Elaine Schwartz
Senator Nan Rich
Adriene Reese, Candidate for Supervisor of Elections, Broward County
Anne Gannon, Tax Collector, Palm Beach County
Commissioner Bruno Barriero, Miami-Dade County Commission
Commissioner Carlos Gimenez, Miami-Dade County Commission
Commissioner Joe Angelo, City of Wilton Manors
Commissioner Ken Keechl, Broward County Commission
Commissioner Richard Steinberg, Miami Beach
Commissioner Saul Gross, Miami Beach
Commissioner Scott Galvin, North Miami
Councilwoman Patty Sheehan, City of Orlando
Joe Garcia, Congressional Candidate
Joseph Gibbons, House Candidate
Mark LaFontaine, House Candidate
Max Linn, Congressional Candidate
Mayor Carmen McGarry, Hillsboro Beach
Mayor David Dermer, City of Miami Beach
Mayor John Hornbuckle, Village of Biscayne Park
Mayor Joy Cooper, Hallandale Beach
Mayor Scott Newton, City of Wilton Manors
Michael Gongora, Commissioner City of Miami Beach

Members of Congress: 5 against, 0 for
Congressional candidates: 4 against the amendment, 0 for
Legislators: 15 against the amendment, 0 for
Legislative candidates: 4 against, 0 for
Local officials: 22 against, 0 for
Local candidates: 2 against, 0 for

More later.