from Creative Loafing:
If the holiday season is about generosity and families and blessings to all, then here's a gift idea that should fit right into the spirit of things:
Turn your holiday party into a "fairness" party.
Don't worry, this isn't about political correctness. A fairness party can be as sanctified, Santa-fied or unabashedly Grinch-y as the hosts want it to be. (You don't even have to have it during the holidays!) The only requirement is that guests make a donation in the name of a common cause: equality.
http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A346530
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
FL Today: Amendment Debate Heats Up
FL Today: Amendment Debate Heats Up
Proposed constitutional amendment that would make gay marriage or civil unions illegal in Florida divides teens and adults down the aisle
BY ASHLEY CARNIFAX
As the political climate heats up and 2008 elections loom closer, teens and adults are beginning to take notice of the big issues, one of which is gay marriage.
One of the items that will be on the ballot is the "Florida Marriage Protection Amendment," a constitutional amendment that, if passed, would make gay marriage or civil unions illegal in Florida.
John Stemberger, president and general counsel for the Florida Family Policy Council, said the amendment is necessary to prevent the state courts from allowing gay marriage. It protects marriage by preserving the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, he said.
However, some teens feel as though this is not necessary.
Tom Krewson, a Titusville High graduate, said there are more important things to deal with than banning gay marriage.
"Marriage has become something so different, something so less meaningful than it used to be," he said. "Men and women marry, divorce, remarry and divorce so frequently, that the perception of 'marriage' shouldn't be protected from the same-sex individuals wanting to participate in it, but from the gross amount of men and women dancing in and out of it every year."
Stemberger agreed divorce is a major problem in our society and said his organization is working on reforming all aspects of marriage.
According to Fairness for All Families, an organization opposing this amendment, the broad wording of the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment could mean some heterosexual couples, like those who are part of a domestic partnership, could be affected by the Marriage Protection Amendment.
"People from across the state are stepping forward to say 'no' to this attempt to put discrimination in our constitution and take away protections from seniors, police, firefighters and thousands of unmarried Floridians," said Barbara DeVane, the secretary of the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans and a founding member of Fairness for All Families, in a statement.
Stemberger emphatically denied these claims.
"The amendment was specifically drafted to not prevent existing domestic partnerships," he said.
While other issues surround this controversial amendment, some teens in Brevard recognize gay marriage is the underlying issue.
Dianna Petyk, a senior at Titusville High, said she supports the amendment.
"Marriage is a civil union between a man and a woman, and any union under God is not only against my beliefs but also my morals," she said.
Tom disagreed.
"Who are we to judge what love is? Marriage is a union between two individuals who are in love. The sex of those individuals should not play any importance, besides the love they have for each other," he said
Jessica Campbell, a sophomore at Brevard Community College, agreed.
"If we can be tolerant of many other things in this country, such as different religions, different cultures and interracial relationships, then why can't we learn to tolerate gay marriage?" she said. "If America really is home of the free, then why aren't gay people free to be married to one another?"
Sept 2007
Proposed constitutional amendment that would make gay marriage or civil unions illegal in Florida divides teens and adults down the aisle
BY ASHLEY CARNIFAX
As the political climate heats up and 2008 elections loom closer, teens and adults are beginning to take notice of the big issues, one of which is gay marriage.
One of the items that will be on the ballot is the "Florida Marriage Protection Amendment," a constitutional amendment that, if passed, would make gay marriage or civil unions illegal in Florida.
John Stemberger, president and general counsel for the Florida Family Policy Council, said the amendment is necessary to prevent the state courts from allowing gay marriage. It protects marriage by preserving the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, he said.
However, some teens feel as though this is not necessary.
Tom Krewson, a Titusville High graduate, said there are more important things to deal with than banning gay marriage.
"Marriage has become something so different, something so less meaningful than it used to be," he said. "Men and women marry, divorce, remarry and divorce so frequently, that the perception of 'marriage' shouldn't be protected from the same-sex individuals wanting to participate in it, but from the gross amount of men and women dancing in and out of it every year."
Stemberger agreed divorce is a major problem in our society and said his organization is working on reforming all aspects of marriage.
According to Fairness for All Families, an organization opposing this amendment, the broad wording of the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment could mean some heterosexual couples, like those who are part of a domestic partnership, could be affected by the Marriage Protection Amendment.
"People from across the state are stepping forward to say 'no' to this attempt to put discrimination in our constitution and take away protections from seniors, police, firefighters and thousands of unmarried Floridians," said Barbara DeVane, the secretary of the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans and a founding member of Fairness for All Families, in a statement.
Stemberger emphatically denied these claims.
"The amendment was specifically drafted to not prevent existing domestic partnerships," he said.
While other issues surround this controversial amendment, some teens in Brevard recognize gay marriage is the underlying issue.
Dianna Petyk, a senior at Titusville High, said she supports the amendment.
"Marriage is a civil union between a man and a woman, and any union under God is not only against my beliefs but also my morals," she said.
Tom disagreed.
"Who are we to judge what love is? Marriage is a union between two individuals who are in love. The sex of those individuals should not play any importance, besides the love they have for each other," he said
Jessica Campbell, a sophomore at Brevard Community College, agreed.
"If we can be tolerant of many other things in this country, such as different religions, different cultures and interracial relationships, then why can't we learn to tolerate gay marriage?" she said. "If America really is home of the free, then why aren't gay people free to be married to one another?"
Sept 2007
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