randyjsprice
Orlando Advocate
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2008
- Messages
- 4
The issue of gay marriage has now reached Florida and will be voted upon as Amendment 2 in the November 2008 election. Its inaccurately being referred to as the Gay Marriage Amendment. I can only assume its being referred to in this manner in order to camouflage its true intent. If this amendment passes with 60% of voter support it will affect not only gay domestic partners but heterosexual domestic partnerships as well. The verbiage of the amendment states:
"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."
The banner for the proposed amendment is being waved by an organization called Florida For Marriage (www Florida4marriage org). The organization was founded by John Stemberger a lawyer whose office is located in Orlando. Stembergers organization had raised more than $444,000 by the end of December, the latest report available. The main donors are the Republican Party of Florida ($300,000) and Florida Catholic Conference ($45,500). Hundreds of ordinary people gave between $1 and $50 as printed in the St. Petersburg Times.
Stemberger is also associated with Colorado based Focus on the Family led by Dr. James Dobson who created a separate entity called Focus on the Family Action. The following is a clip from their website (www focusaction org)
Focus on the Family Action is a new cultural action organization that is completely separate from Focus on the Family, legally. It has been created by separating out of Focus on the Family those activities which constitute lobbying under the IRS code so that they can be expanded in scope. It will provide a platform for informing, inspiring and rallying those who care deeply about the family to greater involvement in the moral, cultural and political issues that threaten our nation.
Focus on the Family Action will give me and my team much greater freedom to take our views to the public square, where the great debate over culture, rights, freedom and values is taking place, and allow me to ask people to take specific actions such as calling senators and congressmen to pass important, family-friendly legislation. I can be more effective in fighting for the Marriage Protection Amendment and against judicial tyranny. To date, we are hearing from members of Congress that too many Christians have been no-shows. But by working together we can change that. We can tackle head-on the most troubling problems facing our great nation and begin changing its direction before it is too late.
Stemberger was able to garner the required number of signatures at the very last minute to meet the 1 Feb 08 deadline when he had been almost 22,000 signatures short in December 2007 according to the St. Petersburg Times.
The rhetoric being used by this organization is nothing new. Theyre spewing the slogan, Marriage should be just between one man and one woman. Their attack is focusing on gay marriage and civil unions but, even if the amendment were to fail it wouldnt make gay marriage possible because of state law that prevents it. However, if the amendment does pass it would mean that ALL unmarried couples claiming to be domestic partners whether gay or heterosexual will be affected. These couples would no longer be able to be covered by an Employers domestic partnership health benefits or have hospital visitation because the amendment would dissolve any existing domestic partnership registry.
To fight Florida For Marriage and the proposed amendment to the state constitution two groups have formed: Florida Red and Blue and Fairness For All Families. The organization Brad and I support is called Fairness For All Families (FFAF). The name is accurate for whom they represent. FFAF not only supports domestic partnerships for both the gay and heterosexual communities but it also supports gay families in their fight for equality.
For those individuals who, like me, are infuriated over the proposed amendment, which is virtually writing discrimination and hatred into the Florida state constitution, the way to fight is through education of the public at large. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who will not educate themselves on the proposal and will vote based solely on the title the proposal is given. At least when a person has all the facts then an informed decision can be made when the time comes to vote.
In the 2000 presidential election a woman from Ohio was interviewed because she had not voted in a presidential election since Eisenhower was running for office. She stated that she felt she needed to vote for George W. Bush because he was a prayin man. She had no concept or done research to find out what he stood for on any issue but voted for him just because he calls himself a Christian. With that type mentality its no wonder the U.S. as a whole is in its current state and its with that type of mentality that will cause this amendment to pass if the public buys into the phrase that Amendment 2 is the Gay Amendment.
To educate the public requires funding that can only come by donors. While I hate the constant and endless barrage of individuals or groups seeking donations, in regards to this issue my domestic partner, Brad and I are contributors. Regardless of which organization one wants to support the end goal is the same: defeating the amendment. According to a recent email I received the opposition pushing for the amendment to pass is at 58% support. Whether the donation comes from a Florida resident or not all donations are gratefully welcomed. Please go to the following websites to learn more about the amendment and hear real testimonies via YouTube.com, MySpace.com and Facebook.com of those who can and will be affected by the amendment. Please make a donation to help advertise the true mean-spirited nature of this amendment and to educate the public on its real effect if the amendment passes.
www fairnessforALLfamilies org
www floridaredandblue com
Finally, please share this information with as many friends and family members as possible. Only through awareness can Floridians defeat this amendment. Please dont just accept my words. Research this subject for yourselves. Ive provided the links that will educate on the organizations both for/against the issue. By completing a Google search these websites will post. Please spread the word.
"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."
The banner for the proposed amendment is being waved by an organization called Florida For Marriage (www Florida4marriage org). The organization was founded by John Stemberger a lawyer whose office is located in Orlando. Stembergers organization had raised more than $444,000 by the end of December, the latest report available. The main donors are the Republican Party of Florida ($300,000) and Florida Catholic Conference ($45,500). Hundreds of ordinary people gave between $1 and $50 as printed in the St. Petersburg Times.
Stemberger is also associated with Colorado based Focus on the Family led by Dr. James Dobson who created a separate entity called Focus on the Family Action. The following is a clip from their website (www focusaction org)
Focus on the Family Action is a new cultural action organization that is completely separate from Focus on the Family, legally. It has been created by separating out of Focus on the Family those activities which constitute lobbying under the IRS code so that they can be expanded in scope. It will provide a platform for informing, inspiring and rallying those who care deeply about the family to greater involvement in the moral, cultural and political issues that threaten our nation.
Focus on the Family Action will give me and my team much greater freedom to take our views to the public square, where the great debate over culture, rights, freedom and values is taking place, and allow me to ask people to take specific actions such as calling senators and congressmen to pass important, family-friendly legislation. I can be more effective in fighting for the Marriage Protection Amendment and against judicial tyranny. To date, we are hearing from members of Congress that too many Christians have been no-shows. But by working together we can change that. We can tackle head-on the most troubling problems facing our great nation and begin changing its direction before it is too late.
Stemberger was able to garner the required number of signatures at the very last minute to meet the 1 Feb 08 deadline when he had been almost 22,000 signatures short in December 2007 according to the St. Petersburg Times.
The rhetoric being used by this organization is nothing new. Theyre spewing the slogan, Marriage should be just between one man and one woman. Their attack is focusing on gay marriage and civil unions but, even if the amendment were to fail it wouldnt make gay marriage possible because of state law that prevents it. However, if the amendment does pass it would mean that ALL unmarried couples claiming to be domestic partners whether gay or heterosexual will be affected. These couples would no longer be able to be covered by an Employers domestic partnership health benefits or have hospital visitation because the amendment would dissolve any existing domestic partnership registry.
To fight Florida For Marriage and the proposed amendment to the state constitution two groups have formed: Florida Red and Blue and Fairness For All Families. The organization Brad and I support is called Fairness For All Families (FFAF). The name is accurate for whom they represent. FFAF not only supports domestic partnerships for both the gay and heterosexual communities but it also supports gay families in their fight for equality.
For those individuals who, like me, are infuriated over the proposed amendment, which is virtually writing discrimination and hatred into the Florida state constitution, the way to fight is through education of the public at large. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who will not educate themselves on the proposal and will vote based solely on the title the proposal is given. At least when a person has all the facts then an informed decision can be made when the time comes to vote.
In the 2000 presidential election a woman from Ohio was interviewed because she had not voted in a presidential election since Eisenhower was running for office. She stated that she felt she needed to vote for George W. Bush because he was a prayin man. She had no concept or done research to find out what he stood for on any issue but voted for him just because he calls himself a Christian. With that type mentality its no wonder the U.S. as a whole is in its current state and its with that type of mentality that will cause this amendment to pass if the public buys into the phrase that Amendment 2 is the Gay Amendment.
To educate the public requires funding that can only come by donors. While I hate the constant and endless barrage of individuals or groups seeking donations, in regards to this issue my domestic partner, Brad and I are contributors. Regardless of which organization one wants to support the end goal is the same: defeating the amendment. According to a recent email I received the opposition pushing for the amendment to pass is at 58% support. Whether the donation comes from a Florida resident or not all donations are gratefully welcomed. Please go to the following websites to learn more about the amendment and hear real testimonies via YouTube.com, MySpace.com and Facebook.com of those who can and will be affected by the amendment. Please make a donation to help advertise the true mean-spirited nature of this amendment and to educate the public on its real effect if the amendment passes.
www fairnessforALLfamilies org
www floridaredandblue com
Finally, please share this information with as many friends and family members as possible. Only through awareness can Floridians defeat this amendment. Please dont just accept my words. Research this subject for yourselves. Ive provided the links that will educate on the organizations both for/against the issue. By completing a Google search these websites will post. Please spread the word.
