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Gay Marriage Ban in Florida

By Associated Press

Florida could join 27 other states that have passed constitutional amendments banning gay marriage -- if voters approve a proposal that appears headed for the November 2008 ballot. Gay Marriage Ban in Florida

Published: Thu, December 13, 2007 - 2:45 pm Last Updated: Thu, December 13, 2007 - 3:12 pm

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida could join 27 other states that
have passed constitutional amendments banning gay marriage -- if
voters approve a proposal that appears headed for the November 2008
ballot.
The proposal was offered by a coalition called
Florida4Marriage.org. Its sponsors say they have the 611,009
petition signatures required for the proposal they say is needed to
prevent children from being raised in homosexual families.
A state Division of Elections Web site shows the coalition is
still 253 signatures short. The coalition says elections officials
have not yet verified all the signatures but that they expect that
to happen by the end of the day.
Florida already has a state law banning gay marriages, but the
coalition says putting it in the constitution would prevent judges
from overturning the statute.
Opponents, though, say the amendment would go beyond the
existing law to affect unmarried heterosexual couples, particularly
the elderly, as well as gays and lesbians.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)