Historic day for Florida

[Flyinglady]

Moments ago, a Judge Garcia struck down Florida�s marriage ban, affirming that the denial of marriage to same-sex couples in our state is unconstitutional.
About time Florida has lagged behind some other states for too long.

[janmcn]

Moments ago, a Judge Garcia struck down Florida’s marriage ban, affirming that the denial of marriage to same-sex couples in our state is unconstitutional.
About time Florida has lagged behind some other states for too long.


Unfortunately this only applies to the Florida Keys, but the rest of the state should quickly follow.


http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/17/4240865/keys-judge-gay-couples-can-marry.html

[Flyinglady]

I think you will find hat it is only Monroe County that will not be issuing the licences until later this month. I just heard that there are at least 3 gay couples, from the villages, hotfooting it to get their licence as I type.

[Flyinglady]

I am sorry, janmcm, it seems that your information is more reliable than mine. Nevertheless this a great day for equality in Florida and I am sure there will be celebrations across the state.

[redwitch]

It's a start, which is more than I expected. Here's hoping the appellate courts don't reverse Judge Garcia's decision.

[buggyone]

It actually sounds as if Florida might just be entering into the 21st century at last.

[Flyinglady]

21st century WOW, only 15 years late.

[applesoffh]

I just don't understand Florida at all (politically). How can this ruling be legal in one county and not legal in the rest of the state?

[DDoug]

Population reduction promote gay marrige

[buggyone]

Population reduction promote gay marrige


Huh?

[Irishmen]

Well first I didn't think political threads were allowed here. Second, I just wish we could get this gay marriage thing over with so the gay community doesn't have to keep forcing to justify their gay lifestyle to the rest of us. Only representing less than 3% of the population, Hollywood is trying hard to convince us their lifestyle is cool, chic, and above heterosexual relationships. My wife and I have a game to see which character of a new show will be gay. Every show has gay people in it. Now your starting to see gay children on Disney shows. Tires of hearing about the gays. While I respect and everyone should love who you love, just quit forcing your gay lifestyle on the rest of us.

[jane032657]

It is unfortunate that people are so misinformed and misguided on the issues. This is not a political discussion, it is a human rights discussion. As a member of Equality Florida, and a Notary, I look forward to the day when I can perform marriages for all of my friends who wish to make this commitment. No one is forcing anything on anyone and if in fact one is only now discovering that in every show or every aspect of life they are finding people of all diversity, then they have finally come to realize that our world is a colorful one made up of all different people, and they have awoken to not a new reality but one that they have closed their eyes to. I would hope in The Villages one could find more productive games to play than that previously mentioned, check out your Thursday Rec calendar.

[Chi-Town]

Statistically there are 2500 gays in The Villages. I'm not saying that is the case, because we may have unique demographics here. But that translates to 7 million in the U.S. It's time to stop worrying.

[njbchbum]

It is unfortunate that people are so misinformed and misguided on the issues. This is not a political discussion, it is a human rights discussion.
snipped


Don't human rights issues become political issues once laws are written to establish/protect the human right; and their 'politicalness' further emphasized when constitutionality must be adjudicated in court?

[happy employee]

So a local judge has ruled that the LGBT community has additional rights that most people don't have? Last time i looked you have the same rights I do. If you want to marry, you are free to do so, you just have to marry someone of the opposite sex. Just like it has been for the last 60 centuries. Or are you telling me that you should have some additional rights that we have not heard of before because you are "Different"? Should persons that practice incest, bestiality or pedophilia also be granted additional protections under the law? What makes you special?

[billethkid]

the ONLY time an issue or issues become political is if there are votes in the offing..........nothing more than that!

[Barefoot]

You can have varying degrees of approval. The same diversity you speak of is in itself hypocritical. Everyone's opinion should be accepted and respected without sanctions.

Slavery is illegal. Women have the right to vote. On issues of human rights, I do not believe there are "varying degrees of approval".

[Rags123]

Coming soon.......to a Supreme Court near you.

.....MUST Rabbi's, priests and pastors provide religious instruction and be obligated to perform marriages that their very creed of beliefs says is not allowed ?

.....Must religious colleges and universities now supply MARRIED student housing to couples whose marriage flies in the face of all they believe ?

.....Must religious adoption agencies allow same sex couples to adopt ? Many Catholic adoptions agencies have closed their doors because of this issue.

So, in fact, it IS being forced on people who do not believe in the basic thought.....they may want freedom for all, but feel their freedom is being infringed upon by things that violate the basis of their own religious beliefs, which last time I looked they had a right to.

SOOOO.....When njbchbum says "Don't human rights issues become political issues once laws are written to establish/protect the human right; and their 'politicalness' further emphasized when constitutionality must be adjudicated in court? "....she is correct.

I do not know the exact number of those folks affected by this, but it IS a fact that it is being forced on others who do not believe in it. Is that a majority ? I sure do not know, but it is a forced issue forced in the name of progress and as buggyone says has us".....entering into the 21st century at last."

[graciegirl]

If we are all born with varying degrees of intelligence and comprehension, and even compassion. (Think sociopath) that in itself should make us all more tolerant of those who don't see it our way.

We all aren't smart in the same way. We all have beliefs and values that we hold onto that make our life liveable. We don't all have the same beliefs.

Some believe certain things that they feel are right right and others think those ideas are wrong wrong.

We AREN'T all born equal.

I am speaking to both sides. My friends know how I feel. Homosexuality is NOT a choice. Living life tolerantly is a choice.

[eweissenbach]

living life tolerantly is a choice.

gracie says it all!

[Rags123]

My post had NOTHING to do with tolerance at all.

Tolerance has been shown for years and years on this issue and many others. This is now being forced through the courts and is infringing on the basic belief system of what I think is the majority of folks.

Now, that is not discussed and if you bring it up, you are, as here, thought of as intolerant and that is most certainly not the case, but comments about it simply support the poster who pointed out the political nature of this.

[njbchbum]

Hasn't A.G. Biondi taken action re that Judge's decision?

Same-sex marriage in limbo in Florida after judge strikes ban | Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/18/us-usa-florida-gaymarriage-idUSKBN0FN2OG20140718)

http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/JMEE-9M4Q8G/$file/JulyAppeal.pdf

[Flyinglady]

Well said Gracie.

[Flyinglady]

I believe that religious organisations already practice discrimination:

They can refuse to marry anyone who has been divorced, refuse to christen illegitimate babies. I believe to be able to adopt from a religious agency one must first be a member of that church, if a gay couple is accepted by that church then there should be no problem, the same goes for religious schools and colleges.

[mtdjed]

Aesop's Fable Lion and His 3 Counselors
King of beast told by his mate he had bad breath.
He called the sheep and asked if his breath was unpleasant and the sheep believing he wanted an honest answer said yes and her head was bit off. He called the wolf who noticed the carcass of the sheep said his breath was sweet and was torn to pieces for being a flatterer.
The lion then asked the Fox who said Your majesty I have such a cough that I cannot smell at all.

Moral: In dangerous times wise people say nothing.

[Indydealmaker]

We are born equal and that is where it stops.

[buggyone]

I imagine that there were the same kind of comments made by the same type of intolerant people during the 1960's and the signing of the Civil Rights Act.