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AMENDMENT 2: Florida Protection Of Marriage

Poll Opened: October 23, 2008

Poll Closes: November 30, 2008

AMENDMENT 2: Florida Protection Of Marriage

The primary argument in the debate is over its effect on people who are not married and who live in domestic partnerships.

Both same-sex and opposite-sex couples can register as domestic partners to obtain rights reserved for family members and married couples, such as the right to make health care decisions for each other. These partnerships also enable couples to share health care insurance and retirement and death benefits. Many older men and women enter into domestic partnerships because marriage would endanger their Social Security benefits.

DEFINITION: Defines marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman and invalidates all other "substantial equivalents."

ON THE BALLOT: "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."

THE GIST: No same-sex marriage would be considered valid in Florida. It would also invalidate any legal partnership treated as the "substantial equivalent" of marriage.

PROS: Supporters say that children need a mother and a father who are legally married and that public policy should reinforce that idea. They say non-marriage unions undermine the strength of marriage as an institution.

WEB SITE: http://www.yes2 marriage.org

CONS: Opponents say that the amendment is unnecessary because same-sex marriage is already outlawed in Florida statutes. Also, they say it would nullify domestic partnerships in Florida, even those between men and women, which would threaten the health care and pension benefits those couples share.

WEB SITE: http://www.sayno2.com

- Lindsay Peterson

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