Equality Florida Applauds Prop 8 Decision
Equality Florida released the following statement, by Managing Director Brian Winfield, regarding today's Federal Appeals Court ruling that found California's Proposition 8 unconstitutional:
"Today's decision is a wonderful victory, not only for same-sex couples, but also for everyone who knows the value of love and fairness.
Same-sex couples want to marry for the same reasons others do – because they love each other and marriage provide them the best means of caring for each other. Recent polls show that a majority of Americans understand this and now support marriage equality for everyone.
As the news of Prop 8 being ruled unconstitutional broke today, more than 50 citizen advocates were walking the halls of Florida's Capitol, talking to lawmakers about passing a statewide domestic partnership law. When passed, Florida domestic partnership law would provide certain basic protections, including: hospital visitation, the ability to make medical decision when a partner is incapacitated, and end of life decision making for a partner.
Florida is already moving in the direction of equality, and today 6.7 million Floridians live in communities that recognize our families with domestic partnership benefits and protections.
Today’s victory is a yet another turning point that brings us closer to full marriage equality for all of our families."
Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
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