Statewide

Written by: Gary Fineout

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has repeatedly called it her duty to defend the state's ban on gay marriage, now wants the state's highest court to decide whether the constitutional amendment is legal.

Bondi's office filed a request late Monday with the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Miami that asks the court to immediately send two consolidated cases to the Florida Supreme Court for a decision. In both cases, judges declared the state's gay marriage ban unconstitutional.

Written by: Melanie Payne

Patty Chafatelli and Bonnie Bahr were married last year in Washington. Saturday was their one-year anniversary. What should have been a happy day was marred by grief. The two Cape Coral women were in New Jersey, making final arrangements for Chafatelli's mom Dorothy who died Oct. 10.

Bahr, who works for Lee County, has missed a week of work. And she needs to stay longer because the wet weather delayed the scheduled burial in the family plot in New Jersey, as Dorothy had wished.

Written by: Brandon Shaik

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi turned heads Monday night when she demanded the Florida Supreme Court make a definitive decision on gay marriage in the Sunshine State.

Currently, gay marriage is legal in 29 U.S. states. Of these, 12 legalized gay marriage this month alone, according to CNN. Bondi is arguing that Florida’s citizens need a firm and permanent answer regarding gay marriage, as soon as possible, and she couldn’t be more right.

Written by: STEVE ROTHAUS

Jazz Jennings, who at 14 already has become a nationally known transgender activist and author, this week achieved two new honors: Time magazine named her to the 2014 list of 25 Most Influential Teens and Equality Florida will present her with its Voice for Equality award.

Written by: Bill Thompson

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday said she would keep battling for the state's ban on same-sex marriage, saying it is her duty to do so until the issue reaches "finality."

Written by: STEVE ROTHAUS

In a startling move Monday night, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said she wants the Florida Supreme Court to decide once-and-for-all whether same-sex couples can marry in the Sunshine State.

Supporters of LGBT equality will have an opportunity to meet and mingle with representatives of the civil rights organization Equality Florida next week at the Venice Theatre.

Equality Florida, which bills itself as "the largest civil rights organization in Florida dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity," will host its first Equality Connection in Southwest Florida at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Equality Florida's Michael Farmer discusses the U.S. Supreme Courts decision not to take up marriage case and let lower court rulings stand bringing the freedom to marry to over 11 new states.

To watch the full interview, click here. 

Written by: Jonathan Kendall

In August, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle ruled on Grimsley and Albu v. Scott that Florida's ban on marriage for same-sex couples was unconstitutional and, despite a stay on his ruling, ordered the State of Florida to issue a new death certificate for Carol Goldwasser, naming Arlene Goldberg, her partner of 47 years, as her wife.