Attention Florida: These Women Want Equal Rights
Written by: Amy Stretten and Ingrid Rojas
Now that same-sex marriage is becoming legal in states all across the country, could Florida be next?
At least six same-sex couples hope so. They, along with the National Center on Lesbian Rights and Equality Florida Institute, have filed a lawsuit in Florida state court in Miami for the freedom to marry.
The lawsuit argues that Florida's current laws prohibiting same-sex couples from marrying are a violation of the United States Constitution by "denying them the legal protections and equal dignity that having the freedom to marry provides," according to Equality Florida.
Catherina Pareto and Karla Arguello are one of the couples suing the state. They have been together for 14 years and want to be married where they live, work, go to church and are raising their 15-month-old son, Enzo.
"Like any other couple out there that has been together, we want to formalize our relationship with a marriage," Arguello said. "That's what anyone would like...especially now that we have a son. Obviously, the laws haven't always been in our favor...but now that it's a potential possibility, we're excited!"