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Loading ...Protest targets Orlando Magic owner’s support for anti-gay amendment
09.29.2008 1:29pm EDT
(Orlando, Florida) Orlando Magic basketball fans were met by opponents of a proposed amendment to Florida’s constitution that would ban same-sex marriage when they arrived at Amway Arena to pick up season’s tickets to the NBA team.
“The billionaire’s a bonehead, the billionaire’s a bonehead,” the protesters chanted, referring to Magic owner Rich De Vos, who has given supporters of the amendment $100,000.“He’s the biggest contributor to the amendment from Orlando,” protest organizer Jennifer Foster told the Orlando Sentinel. “And he’s getting $1 billion in taxpayers’ money to build the arena. That sends a bad message.”
Almost half the 30 protesters were straight. They say the proposed amendment also would affect non-married opposite-sex couples if it is adopted.
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.
The conservative group Florida4Marriage attempted to have the proposed amendment placed on the 2006 ballot, but fell short of the required number of signatures. Under Florida law, the organization was allowed to continue to add names to the petition in a bid to get it on the 2008 ballot. It was certified in February to go on the November ballot.
Last year ,it was discovered that the state GOP was bankrolling the amendment effort.
An investigation by the St. Petersburg Times into funding for the Florida4Marriage found that, of the $193,000 that had been raised by the group, $150,000 came from a single donor – the Florida Republican Party.
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 both to same-sex couples and to unmarried couples who live together.
That has spurred Florida Red and Blue, a non-partisan organization, to enter the fray on behalf of unmarried, opposite-sex couples.
Last year, in just 60 days, the group amassed more than $1 million to battle the proposed amendment.
A Mason-Dixon poll, released last month, shows that the amendment could be in trouble.
The survey of likely voters found the 57-percent support the amendment, while 36-percent said they intend to vote against it. Florida’s constitution requires a 60-percent majority to amend the document.
Nice to see our tax dollars at work by building a stadium for a billionaire who promotes hate and prejudice. It’s his team, let him build the stadium without taxpayer assistance.
I wasn’t asked if I support the bill. I’m voting against the ban. We are all equal, just because they are straight, does not give them the right to deny our love and our rights. They are not god, so stop trying to spit your two cents in.
Rich De Vos made a fortune being at the top of a pyramid scheme known as Amway. He is a religious right (Christian Reformed Church) loony-tune. He’s robbed thousands of misled people of their money while thinking he’s some kind of incredible Christian. He is truly evil.
Clearly that Florida amendment is an out right case of discrimination. Why can’t people see this?
Buy invalidating ALL types of unions, except those between two people of the opposite sex, Floridians are hammering in the final nail on the coffin for same-sex couples.
What kind of a equality is that?
Enough is enough
When is the queer nation going to hit the streets and fight for their civil rights like black people did in the 60’s? When are they going to say, “Enough is enough”, to this Jerry Falwellian, right wing agenda? When the GLBT community gets it’s act together and shows states like California & Florida the shear numbers of people that ate mad as hell, and aren’t going to take it anymore, they will have no choice but to recognize them. Just as sufferagettes fought in the twenties, and blacks have fought for decades, the gay community must stand up to government and say, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!
I don’t think we should have to fight this bullshit, personally. Hell, I won’t file my taxes if they attempt to make me fund any part of it.