The Real Impact of Florida's Amendment 2
by: Anthony Niedwiecki
Sat Oct 18, 2008 at 00:21:44 AM EDT
http://pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7617( - promoted by Pam Spaulding)
As most of you already know, Florida voters will go to the polls on November 4, 2008 to vote on an amendment to the Florida Constitution that attempts to limit the recognition of same sex relationships. Specifically, the proposed amendment, known in Florida as Amendment 2, does two things. It defines marriage between one man and one woman, and it also prohibits the recognition of any union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent to marriage. The text of the amendment reads:
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 legal question that is raised by this proposed amendment is what the phrase "substantial equivalent" to marriage will mean under the law.
