12.13.07
Sponsors say state amendment to ban gay marriage at signature goal
TALLAHASSEE - Sponsors of a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Florida said Thursday that they now have enough signatures to get on the November 2008 ballot.
The proposal that defines marriage as “the legal union of only one man and one woman” was offered by a coalition called Florida4Marriage.org. It needed 611,009 signatures from registered voters to go on the ballot.
The amendment’s language was drafted by Matthew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, which advocates for religious civil liberties, and his wife, Anita. Liberty Counsel announced in a news release that the proposal had met the signature requirement.
That’s the last step to get on the ballot as the Florida Supreme Court already has ruled the proposal meets basic requirements of focusing only on one subject and offering voters a clear and accurate summary of what it would do.
The proposal will need a 60 percent majority at the polls to become part of the Florida Constitution