Failure to Pass Amendment 2 = Armageddon

Seriously, this is what the religious right is saying gay marriage will lead to armageddon. (Never mind that gay marriage is already illegal in Florida). There's a lot of fun stuff in the e-mail they sent about the issue, but here are some highlights:

Over the next two days, I have much to share, but the basic message I need to convey this week is simple: The next 90 days will determine the future of marriage in our nation.

With now less than 90 days remaining before the November 4 elections, the future of marriage hangs in the balance, not only in California, but in the rest of the nation as well. "[T]he Armageddon of the culture war," is how Chuck Colson referred to the Prop 8 campaign in California. Or as Don Wildmon of the American Family Association explained, if we lose in California, "it will open the floodgates for same-sex marriage in all the other states."

...

The next 90 days will be pivotal in determining the future of marriage in the United States. With decisive victories in California, Florida and Arizona, we have the opportunity save marriage in those states and at the same time send a strong message to courts and politicians across the country.

Renneisen Says He Opposes Amendment 2

Despite signing petitions to get Amendment 2 on the ballot congressional candidate Paul Renneisen says he opposes Amendment 2:

"I did sign the petition to get it on the ballot so it can be voted down," Renneisen said. "I didn't sign a petition supporting the amendment at all. I signed a petition to put it on the ballot."

"There are a lot of [gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender] individuals who feel we have an opportunity in this year of change [to] defeat this," he said, adding that he would vote against the proposal to add the state's law banning same-sex marriage to the Florida Constitution.

I'm inclined to take Paul's word for this one, but the explanation sounds a little weak to me. It would be quite easy for someone to think that signing a petition on behalf of getting Amendment 2 on the ballot is an implicit support of the Amendment. And if it passes, which is in the realm of possibilities, then won't this signature (and those of his family) have helped make the new law reality?

If Amendment 2 Passes

Here are some of the potential consequences:

Similar amendments in other states are being used to take away benefits from public employees (Kentucky, for instance), and dissolve domestic partnership registries used to provide health care benefits and pensions (in Michigan).

Broward and Palm Beach Counties and the cities of Tampa, Gainesville and Miami Beach, among others, offer Domestic Partnership Registries. Most Florida universities and more than half of Fortune 500 companies offer Domestic Partnership benefits. These benefits would be placed at risk, if not outright abolished, if this amendment passes.

Every unmarried Floridian will be impacted by this amendment - especially divorced or widowed seniors and public employees who, under existing programs, can share some benefits such as hospital visitation privileges and health care coverage without being married.

Interesting

Congressional Quarterly suggests that the Defense of Marriage Act may be repealed if Obama wins the election. Good. That unconstitutional abomination never should've passed in the first place.

Why They're Wrong, Part 10

And editorial in right-wing rag the Washington Times has this to say:

California did more than just legalize same-sex marriages in June. Its decision has the potential to threaten one of America's greatest freedoms - religious liberty - by ruling that sexual orientation is a matter of discrimination.

Bad grammar aside, the logic in this one is ridiculous. People like this seem to think that religious liberty applies only to their side. What about the liberty of religious people who support people of different sexual orientations? Besides, anything can be "a matter of discrimination." You could, if you chose to, discriminate against people named Bob. Or people with brown shoes. Or people who drink Vault (and seriously, you should discriminate against people who drink Vault). The point is that discrimination based on who a person is, and not based on their actions, is wrong and violates the entire purpose of a democratic country.

Martinez Opposes Amendment 2

Just had Mayor Raul Martinez, who is running against Lincoln Diaz-Balart in Congressional District 21, on Florida Progressive Radio. He said that he is going to vote "No" on Amendment 2.

Wasting Money

Think of all the good works that could be done with this kind of money?

Mercury News:

The fight over Proposition 8, the gay marriage ban, has drawn nearly $9 million in donations. Both sides predict they'll raise considerably more before voters go to the polls in the Nov. 4 general election.

At least another $3 million has been raised around Florida's Amendment 2. This one is even worse:

Pandagon:

AFA said it has put aside money over the years so it would have the funds to meet whatever need might arise. The $500,000 for ProtectMarriage.com came from those savings, it said.

The money going to fight these bans is legitimate, we can and should donate money to fight hatred and bigotry. But hundreds of millions of dollars has been raised and funneled to endorse hatred in the name of Jesus, something he certainly would've objected to. Go reread the words of Jesus. He never mentions anything about homosexuality. He does, however, talk about poverty a lot. How much of the poverty problem we face be fixed if this money were spent there instead?