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Loading ...Neff: Fighting Charlie Crist
There is an etiquette to celebrating a wedding, but most certainly protest is not found in the guidelines from the Emily Post Institute.
Protest, however, is part of Impact-Florida’s plan on Dec. 12, when the once-divorced governor of Florida marries Carole Rome.When Crist won the gubernatorial election in 2006, surviving a brutal primary with an opponent who resorted to gay-baiting, I wouldn’t have imagined gay rights demonstrators picketing his wedding. He was a moderate Republican seeking to succeed Jeb Bush in Tallahassee.
But Crist seemed the moderate in 2006 not because of his positions on gay rights or choice or a host of other social issues, but because his opposition in the primary seemed so far to the right.
And now the governor — a potential presidential candidate in 2012 — is facing gay rights demonstrators, who will “respectfully” picket outside his wedding ceremony at the First United Methodist Church and the black-tie optional reception at the elegant Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg.
Crist will say “I do” inside First United. He’ll exit the church, where he will find demonstrators in pink T-shirts. “After the positive congratulatory observance, there will be a candlelight vigil close to the [Vinoy] in downtown St. Pete to mourn the loss of gays’ right to get married,” read a statement from Impact-Florida, the group organizing the protest.
Why the demonstrators?
Because Crist endorsed Amendment 2, which changed the Florida Constitution to state, “Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.”
Amendment 2 passed with 62 percent of the vote on Nov. 4.
Charlie Crist, with all his Sunshine Start charm, didn’t work the crowds on Amendment 2. He didn’t stump for the measure — in fact, during a question-and-answer session with the press as recently as early August he needed an explanation of the proposal before he said, “I support it.”
But Crist did endorse Amendment 2, and I don’t think it simply coincidence that at the same time he was scoring points on the right he was getting mentions as a potential running mate for John McCain.
Crist, as any regular viewer of “Saturday Night Live” knows, didn’t get chosen as a political mate in 2008. But he did find a domestic partner and is about to enter a relationship that legally entitles him to 1,000-plus rights and benefits withheld from those who are not married, including gays and lesbians who cannot marry.
Crist is about to enter a relationship that provides him security and stability that Amendment 2’s passage withholds or takes away from many other Floridians. An estimated 400,000 Floridians who are gay or straight are in domestic partnership relationships. And with the broadly written language of Amendment 2, those in same-sex or opposite-sex relationships may lose partnership benefits or find it increasingly more difficult to secure them.
Today, Dec. 8, were Crist to seek domestic partner coverage of some kind for his significant other, Amendment 2’s existence might be used to turn him down. After Dec. 12 and his wedding, no question, no problem.
Florida law severely curtails gift-giving to a politician, even on his wedding day. Crist’s wedding invitations went out with an enclosed card that read, “No gifts please, due to Florida law.”
But even without the law, I don’t think the governor would be getting Tiffany’s from his gay constituents. He’ll be getting what he deserves on Dec. 12 — demonstrators.
For Immediate Release
December 8, 2008
Contact
Lorna Bracewell
Director Impact Florida
Cell: 727-504-3344
Email: Lorna@LornBracewell.com
DEMONSTRATION & CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AT FLORIDA GOVERNOR’S WEDDING
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Impact-Florida will hold a peaceful and respectful demonstration and candlelight vigil outside of Florida Governor Charlie Crist and Carole Rome’s wedding and reception.
Governor Crist first stated he believed in a “Live and Let Live” attitude when speaking about Amendment 2. However, he then became an outspoken proponent of Amendment 2, which passed by a margin of only 1.9%. The vague and ambiguous wording of this amendment could go much further than promised. It could adversely effect domestic partners benefits of both heterosexual and gay Floridians.
Impact-Florida spokesperson Lorna Bracewell said, “I truly believe our demonstration for marriage equality outside of Governor Crist’s wedding will serve to educate the Governor and all Floridian’s that the people injured by passage of Amendment 2 are real people. The more visible we in the GLBT community are, the better our chances will be for one day achieving full citizenship in this state and in this country.
DATE: December 12, 2008
PHASE #1: Demonstration Outside Wedding Ceremony
TIME: 6 P.M. (Although the Wedding is planned for 7 P.M. Participants are asked to arrive no latter than 6:00 P.M..)
LOCATION: Williams Park, 330 2nd Ave N, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 (Between 3rd St. North and 4th St. N on 2nd Avenue
North. (Park is directly across 2nd Ave. N from the First United Methodist Church.)
Directions/Map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Saint+Petersburg&state=FL&address=330+2nd+Ave+N&zipcode=33701
Following Wedding Ceremony, participants will walk silently to second location.
PHASE #2: Candlelight Vigil Outside Reception
TIME: Candlelight Vigil Will Last One Hour
LOCATION: Arbor/Trellis North Straub Park 400 Bayshore Dr NE, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701. (Across from Vinoy Resort.)
DIRECTIONS/MAP: From Williams Park to North Straub Park: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Saint+Petersburg&state=FL&address=400+Bayshore+Drive+Northeast&zipcode=33701
Impact Florida is a grassroots organization formed in response to passage of Florida’s “Amendment 2.”. Our members are devoted to pursuing and attaining marriage equality for all of Florida’s citizens, regardless of gender and sexual orientation. For more information on Impact-Florida, visit our website at http://www.impact-florida.com.
Brian said: “I will never return to that state while that law is in effect.”
I hope you’ll reconsider. Visit Florida — as an out and proud gay person. Spend money in our GLBT owned/operated B&Bs, restaurants, and other businesses. Show that we are not only a part of the community — but we are a significant part of the economic engine. Call it a “buy-cott” if you will!
Peace, joy, and harmony folks…
My Thoughts on the December 12th “Gathering”.
This Friday night…December 12th, 2008, at 6:00PM, Impact Florida and their friends will be “gathering” in Williams Park (and later North Straub Park) to stand in unity against the “acts and results” of ignorance, and at the same time celebrating the tenet of love and marriage.
We will be there to serve witness to the “legal” marriage of the Governor and his new bride at the 1st Methodist Church in downtown St. Petersburg.
To those who disagree with this tactic…I offer this…..
We are NOT here to degrade or show disrespect to the Governor nor for his new wife, quite the contrary.
We are here to CELEBRATE the institution of marriage…..and the rights and protections afforded to the vast majority of our populace. We only wish to bring to light some simple, yet direct questions to the Governor ..and to our own citizenry.
On Friday night… we’ll have the opportunity to show exactly who we are…..and what we stand for.
What we hope to portray to the Governor ,his new wife, their guests, to the citizen’s of St. Petersburg, and to the nation and the world………. is our ability to show our respect for the institution of marriage….whom so ever’s ….it might be.
How can we not honor another’s marriage…when it is that very right we are wishing for ourselves?
But while doing this…we do have questions we pose to Mr. Crist…..simple and direct ones:
”Why not us?”
“Why are we now considered “second class citizens” in a country where ALL citizens are supposedly called “equal”?
“Why are we not allowed to celebrate…as you do Governor…..the love we have for another human being?”
“Why is it you think…that we will “not care“…. when over one thousand rights afforded to you….you would deny us as citizens of the United States?”
“Why should we have to fight for these rights?”
These questions are the reason we’ll be there…..not to mock the wedding or in any way try to lessen the happiness of the day.
To simply ask… as citizens of the United States…..but more importantly, as human beings…
”What makes your love any ‘more ’important ….or ‘blessed ’ than mine?”
The whole concept of this event, in my mind anyway……is for only one thing…awareness.
I want more and more people to stop……see…..and become more enlightened to the fact that we are NOT so different from them.
We love in the very same ways as they do!
And in this love….we want to become as any other.
To be able to grow and thrive within our families and amongst friends.
To be able to become even more productive citizens in our communities
To share our lives ….equally… among one another and that of society as a whole.
And to further the concept of “unconditional love” in a world which so desperately needs it.
These are the principals I will be standing for.
So…on Friday night….I ,along with many others, will be in the park across from the 1st Methodist Church in St. Petersburg not only in honor of marriage….but in honor of people who stand up for themselves.
It may not be easy….and could even be dangerous…but it’s a risk I must take.
We may very well come up against protests against us, (i.e. , Right wing or religious extremists). Remember……..it is their right to be there too.
And should that happen…here’s what I’d like to see happen.
I’d like to see us confront them in a way they probably won’t understand or be able to respond to …….
Simply smile at them…….no confrontations…no screaming or derogatory comments…simply SMILE.
( I know..I know……this will be a hard thing to do….but there is a reason for this.)
To all who witness…..especially the media…
Let only THEIR angry voices of “intolerance and ignorance” be heard.
Let their words of “anger and hatred “be representative of their ideals…not ours.
People WILL listen…and hopefully learn.
That being said………my wish to all the participants, have a WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE on Friday night…and I’ll look forward to seeing each of you there.
To those who can’t attend………think of us…and send us good vibes from wherever you are.
We ARE truly…all in this together.
Scott Mills
I will be at the vigil. I am one of the organizers. This is just the beginning. impACT-Florida will be mobilizing with our boots on the ground from now till there is equality for all. Please go on http://www.impACT-Florida.com and join us. If you can make the vigil in St. Pete, by all means do so and bring everybody you can drag along.
Way to go, Impact Florida!
Show that fool NO MERCY for his endorsement of hate and discrimination!
Sad, sad, sad. He is just a hypocrite. He is a divorced man! He already stood before God once and said he would be with that person till death due them part and yet he is divorce and doing it again. And yet he supported Amend#2 against not just gays but all single persons in a commented relationship in Florida. Go figure!
The question 2 support shows that the argument from the religious right, they support civil unions but don’t call is marriage is another distortion. I kept hearing this in California. I have no doubt a question 2 is on its way here also. They alreay got the prop 8. I fully support all of you in Florida. Can we from outside the state do anything to help you? Is there a court case to overthrow this law. It seems outrageous. I used to vacation there every March. I will never return to that state while that law is in effect. I also think the governor is a closeted coward.
I will be at the “protest” and would encourage all gays and lesbians from all over the country to attend. This is an American Civil Right that can effect the outcome of all Civil Rights that can just as easily be put to the popular vote.
The next election may end up with “Should gays be able to have a bar?” or “should blacks marry whites?”
I know that this sounds rediculios but don’t sit back and say that it can’t happen because it can.
Soooo … Charlie Crist is marrying his “beard” so he’ll be acceptable to the Rethuglican Reich as a Presidential candidate.
BFD.
Have you ever seen a STRAIGHT man work THAT hard at looking good?
ROFLMQAO!
Bud Burgoon-Clark
still waiting for those 1000+ rights
Thanks for the support folks! We here at ImpACT-Florida are thrilled we have the opportunity to showcase globally the utter hypocrisy..
We are standing in unity nationally!
I just wonder how long it will be before Charlie is busted in an airport bathroom and has to make an appearance on Dateline to defend his “wide stance”.
Crists’oath of office to defend and protect the constitutions and the republic for which it stands was violated when he voted for Prop.2. Taking equal rights away by changing the Constitution, through whatever process is a violation of that oath.
Actually I thought the length and the content of the article was very appropriate. The wedding is in less than a week, and Lisa is doing a very good job about getting the word out about the hypocrasy of the Florida governor.
Lisa, it would be nice if your article were shorter and more concise. Otherwise, the topic is very important. I hope the protestors have some impact.