Monday, August 25, 2014

The Battle For Gay Marriage Continues




The federal court in Florida has now taken a stance on this hot topic of gay marriage. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle of Tallahassee took a strong position in the battle against gay marriage, ordering the state of Florida to recognize gay marriage entered into in the state and those entered into out of state. In short, his opinion stated that the ban on gay marriage is an "obvious pretext for discrimination." Furthermore, Judge Hinkle ruled that "[t]olerating views with which one disagrees is a hallmark of civilized society" and the ban "stems entirely, or almost entirely, from moral disapproval of the practice." His ruling denied Attorney General Pam Bondi's argument that marriage's critical feature is the capacity of procreate. From my perspective, this defense was laughable! According to the National Vital Statistics Report of 2013, the approximate percentage of births to unmarried women was 40.6%.  Even Pam Bondi herself has been married and divorced twice with no children. The pure ability to procreate in an opposite sex marriage has absolutely no legitimate effect on whether gay marriage should be recognized in Florida.
Although Judge Hinkle immediately stayed the effects of his ruling pending further appeal, proponents of gay marriage now have significant backing from the state and federal courts of Florida. This battle against Florida's ban wages on.
Amen, Judge Hinkle....

(source Miami Herald, August 22, 2014 - by Steve Rothaus - picture and article)

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