05.21.06
FLORIDA GOVERNOR HEADLINES ANTI-GAY FUNDRAISER
FLORIDA GOVERNOR HEADLINES ANTI-GAY FUNDRAISER Continues Republican Investment in Political Gay Bashing
(ORLANDO) Equality Florida is calling on Gov. Bush to reconsider his decision to headline a Friday night fundraiser for the rabidly anti-gay, anti-choice Florida Family Policy Institute (FFPI). The Orlando based organization is one of 34 state chapter-like affiliates of Focus on the Family and is spearheading the effort to permanently ban gay and lesbian partners from receiving the legal benefits and protections of marriage or Civil Unions.
“The Florida Republican Party spent $300,000 to underwrite the far-right’s anti-gay campaign to amend the Florida Constitution and now the Governor, who has said he opposes the amendment, is raising money for them,” said Nadine Smith, Equality Florida Executive Director. “It is hypocritical for the Governor to say he represents all citizens of Florida and then raise money for those who would discriminate.”
Last year, a small group of anti-gay organizations lead by FFPI failed in their attempt to place a measure on the 2006 ballot to amended the constitution and permanently prevent legal recognition or protection for same-sex couples. They have vowed to resurrect the effort for the 2008 election.
The Governor’s sister in-law, First Lady Laura Bush recently warned that politicians shouldn’t use the issue as a political weapon and the Vice President’s lesbian daughter has finally broken her silence to speak out against a Federal constitutional amendment GOP leaders are pushing for in Washington. A U.S. Senate vote could come as early as June 5th.
Through a campaign calledFairnessforAllFamilies.org, Equality Florida is working with local, state and national allies to mobilize fair-minded Floridians to oppose anti-gay constitutional amendments at both the state and national levels.
For nearly 30 years Florida law has restricted access to marriage to opposite-sex couples. In 1997, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Defense of Marriage Act, again restricting marriage to opposite-sex couples and, this time, adding the prohibition of recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples from other states.
If passed, the amendments would legally deprive thousands of Floridians of any chance to obtain important basic civil rights, including: Social Security and pension benefits, family medical leave, financial obligations and responsibilities to each other and their children, inheritance rights, hospital visitation and medical decision making authority, and scores of tax and other benefits.
Polls show public opinion on the subject is shifting. A majority of Floridians now believes legal protections should be provided to gay and lesbian couples.
Equality Florida is Florida’s only statewide human rights organization dedicated to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Through education and advocacy, the organization is committed to building a state of equal rights for all Floridians, inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities.