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Loading ...Fla. gay marriage foes accused of breaking election rules
10.22.2008 2:52pm EDT
(Miami, Florida) The umbrella group behind a proposed state constitutional amendment to bar gay marriage and the recognition of unmarried couples has been accused of skirting Florida’s election law.
Florida Red & Blue, which is fighting the proposed amendment, has filed a complaint with the Florida Elections Commission alleging that Florida4Marriage is encouraging donors to give money to Florida Family Action Inc., a not-for-profit agency that then turned money over to Florida4Marriage.By donating to the non-profit, donors do not have to be identified. People giving money directly to Florida4Marriage would be required to have their names filed with the commission making the names accessible to the public.
In its complaint, Red & Blue cites an email sent by Florida4Marriage leader John Stemberger to supporters last month encouraging opponents of gay marriage to donate to the non-profit so their names would not become public.
Red & Blue called for an investigation by the commission and the pressing of criminal charges.
The organization’s campaign manager, Derek Newton, called the lack of disclosure “outrageous.” Newton claims that at least three-quarters of a million dollars have been funneled to the anti-gay marriage campaign through non-profits.
“Florida voters deserve to know who is funding this change to our state constitution,” he said.
But Florida4Marriage denies doing anything wrong.
“Everything we’ve done is legal,” said Florida4Marriage leader John Stemberger.
The proposed amendment says, “Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.”
Florida already has a law restricting marriage to opposite-sex couples, but supporters of the amendment say the law could be overturned in court.
Opponents of the proposed amendment say in addition to barring gay marriage, it would bar civil unions and would be used to deny partner benefits not only to same-sex couples but also to unmarried couples who live together.
Earlier this month, a Mason-Dixon poll found that 55 percent of likely voters supported the gay-marriage amendment, while 34 percent were against it. Eleven percent were undecided.
Amending the Florida constitution requires a 60 percent majority. With support for the amendment close to that figure the battle is on for those voters who are still undecided.
IF these folks have any pride in their dirty work to prevent gay marriage, why then, they should have no objection to their names being public information.
How cowardly of them to try to hide behind a non-profit and at the same time thusly damage the good works of all non-profits by bringing ill-repute, a bad name and a cloud of suspicion over non-profits in general.
again gay issues are not state issues they are matter of the private domain.how can other people that the concerned understand what gays need ,democracy is indeed dictatorship in the US
A modern day version of hiding under a pointy white hat…
Well, it goes to show you how some people will go to any lengths to enforce their agenda including lying and cheating. And I suppose they have the added priviledge of calling themselves “Christians”. In the first place, when it comes to human rights, dignity and the pursuit of happiness for each and every individual in a democratic nation, this issue should not be going to a public vote in the first place. There is way too much religious involvement in American politics, and everyone knows how much hatred and pain religious leaders have caused with their self righteousness and their evil ways of indoctrinating the masses.
How is it even possible that in the USA peoples civil rights keep getting put to a vote?! It makes me so angry and it makes no sense! Where would the USA be if this went on back in the civil rights era for black people? It never would have been tolerated! No offense to anyone but I thank God I live in a country where gays have the same rights an anyone else. Gay people in the USA need to start playing hard ball
I believe that the Florida4Marriage freaks are totally out to destroy our state and making people donate money to a non profit group so they won’t have their names printed is dumb. If you support the marriage of one man & one woman, then declare yourself for that right. Don’t go and hide under your churches roof. If you want to pass anything, you should stand behind your rights. I’m voting no on Amendment 2 in Florida, and my name is Chim Johnson.
I live in Florida and I am equally concerned that the signatures needed for the amendment to be placed on the ballot were not legally obtained. We know from previous reports in the U.S. that religious groups have been involved with less than legal or ethical methods for gathering signatures. How about that for an amendment? All signatures have to be investigated and responded to before it can be placed on a ballot? That would help both sides stay ethical eh?
I also donated to No on 2 a group fighting to keep a gay marrige ban out of the Florida state constitution.
I consider it vital to keep these types of amendments out of all the state constitutions facitg ballot votes NOv 4. I can perosnally sujpport only 2 figths,
so I chose No on Prop 8 and No on 2. Sincee California and Florida are very large major politically influential and very populous states on opposite coasts.
Much more than either small Connecticut or large Arizona to a be major loss for gay marriage if either one is lost in these 2 close to call and enormously important ballot box marriage equality fights.