Florida judge strikes down voter-approved same-sex marriage ban - Polidicks

[quote]A county judge in Florida struck down on Thursday the state's gay marriage ban, the latest in a string of court rulings across the United States voiding state laws that restrict the right of same-sex couples to marry. Circuit Judge Luis Garcia, whose jurisdiction includes the Florida Keys, ordered the Monroe County Clerk of Court to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples next Tuesday. While the ruling applies to only one Florida county, it marks the first decision in several court cases across the state challenging a same-sex marriage ban approved by Florida voters in 2008. Garcia ruled in favor of two male bartenders living in Key West seeking the right to marry, saying Florida's gay marriage ban violated their rights to equal protection under the U.S. Constitution. Aaron Huntsman and William Lee Jones, both 43, said they decided to sue in part to represent the prominent gay community in the Florida Keys. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a Republican, is appealing the decision, a spokeswoman said, stating that the final decision on the issue must come from the U.S. Supreme Court. Florida is the 18th U.S. state where courts have ruled against prohibitions on same-sex marriage since last year's Supreme Court ruling striking down parts of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which had defined marriage as between one man and one woman, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights group.[/quote] [url]http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/17/usa-florida-gaymarriage-idUSL2N0PS1XV20140717[/url] :dance: Sadly it is one Florida county in the Keys but the rest of the state will soon follow.

It makes sense that Florida's voters would approve it considering it's God's waiting room

[QUOTE=Siminov;45422002][url]http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/17/usa-florida-gaymarriage-idUSL2N0PS1XV20140717[/url] :dance: Sadly it is one Florida county in the Keys but the rest of the state will soon follow.[/QUOTE]I REALLY hate same sex marriage bans. Really does a disservice to the term "Liberty and Justice for all." Glad at least PART of the country is waking up and realizing how stupid it is.

[QUOTE=FurrehFaux;45422020]It makes sense that Florida's voters would approve it considering it's God's waiting room[/QUOTE] Texas is where you gotta be worried about. Republicans control, and will forever, control that state

[quote]Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a Republican, is appealing the decision, a spokeswoman said, stating that the final decision on the issue must come from the U.S. Supreme Court.[/quote] Because that's gonna work [I]so well[/I] for them

[QUOTE=Code3Response;45422127]Texas is where you gotta be worried about. Republicans control, and will forever, control that state[/QUOTE] Texas actually seems to be more accepting in my experience than people give it credit for. At least, it was when I went to San Antonio. Although the federal courts seem to keep it in line in extreme cases. [url]http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/26/politics/texas-same-sex/[/url]

Major cities in Texas are center to liberal When you get out of the cities... well...

Living in Florida is an experience of contradictions. Back in high school, teachers were constantly trying to protect LGBT students from discrimination even as the administration was trying to block the GSA club from forming. On the other hand, the administration often went to great lengths to avoid appearing unfair to minority students even as social cliques and racial gangs formed in the commons. Things got better at the college level, but unfortunately Florida has so many uneducated rednecks who never went past high school that measures like these end up getting passed by voters.

[QUOTE=Jund;45423622]Major cities in Texas are center to liberal When you get out of the cities... well...[/QUOTE] I dunno, my town is really tolerant of sexuality, race, etc. I love this town.