Know Your Opponents Arguments and Tactics
Our opponents, "Florida Red & Blue" and "Fairness for All Families" know they can not defeat us unless they change the subject away from the topic of homosexual marriage. All 27 states that have had marriage amendments on the ballot have won with overwhelming majorities, except Arizona where the initiative lost by a couple of points. In Arizona, they stopped mentioning anything about so-called "gay marriage" altogether and created a new and dishonest argument and tactic. That new deceptive strategy involved trying to scare senior citizens into thinking that their benefits would be taken away if the marriage amendment passed.
Now in Florida, homosexual activists are trying to use this same pathetic tactic. But this time we are ready for them. Below are a number of documents and resources that demonstrate legally that a yes vote on amendment 2 does one thing and one alone. It defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. But it is does not prevent the government or private companies from giving benefits to whoever they wish to. Specifically, the below documents conclusively prove that the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment does not invalidate the small bundle of rights granted by existing domestic partnerships in Florida.
TV interview covering the Domestic Partnership argument
CLICK HERE to view a lively 27 minute debate between John Stemberger, Yes2Marriage.org State Chairman and Nadine Smith, Lesbian Activist and Executive Director of Equality Florida as they discuss the legal impact of Amendment 2.
Marriage contains 1,138 rights
CLICK HERE to read a January 2004 letter from the United States General Accounting Office which explains that marriage contains some 1,138 rights. This demonstrates that it is impossible for any other limited legal arrangement (i.e. domestic partnerships, which grant a small bundle of 4-9 rights) to even come close to the "substantial equivalent" of the 1,138 rights in marriage as defined by Amendment 2.
What Rights are granted in Florida Domestic Partnerships?
CLICK HERE to view a summary of the small bundle of rights available under Florida Domestic Partnership Acts (DPA). All the rights granted under these DPA's can be had by signing a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) form off the internet. In fact a form like this off the internet will give far more rights and more protections than any of these DPA's. Good estate planning is something everyone needs.
FL Supreme Court Has Approved Language and Clarifies Impact of Amendment 2
CLICK HERE to read excerpts from the Florida Supreme Court ruling on March 23, 2006 which approved the language and clarified the impact of the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment saying that voters are being asked to vote on the single topic of whether marriage should be between a man and a woman. The highest legal authority in Florida also says in this opinion that the amendment simply takes the existing marriage law and places it into the state constitution with the similar effect.
CLICK HERE to read the Full Opinion of the Florida Supreme Court approving the language of Amendment 2.
Oral Argument before the Florida Supreme Court in the Single Subject Ruling
CLICK HERE for the transcript of the Oral Argument
CLICK HERE for a VIDEO of the Oral Argument
Florida's 4th District Court of Appeals Decision
CLICK HERE to read relevant excerpts from the case of Lawrence Lowe vs. Broward County. In the decision, the Court ruled that Florida's current marriage laws (which Amendment 2 was modeled after) do not invalidate Domestic Partnerships.
Different Language of Marriage Amendments in Other States
CLICK HERE to see a comparison of very different wording in various state marriage amendments. Our opponents try to point to legal decisions in other states to argue disingenuously that Amendment 2 will somehow take away benefits or harm people in some way. This document demonstrates how different the wording of state marriage amendments are between Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky. Regardless of the wording of other state amendments, the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment will do one thing and one thing only - protect the definition of marriage between a man and a woman. But it is does not prevent the government or private companies from giving benefits to who ever they wish to.