An Oct. 18 “Swing the Vote” party at Les Beans coffeehouse in Lake Worth, Fla., promoted awareness and discussion of the bigoted Amendment 2 on the state ballot.
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Florida law already prohibits same-sex marriage, yet Amendment 2 seeks to further cement homophobia by giving it constitutional protections.
But if passed, the amendment will also scrap recognition of unions that are treated as marriage or substantially equivalent to marriage. Domestic partnerships and unmarried couples—homosexual or straight—will be at risk. Benefits extended to domestic partners could be lost. According to a letter signed by 154 lawyers, there could be serious implications for the rights to share property or pass on assets, establish trusts or other legal arrangements or even remarry. Senior citizens who often cohabitate without remarrying in order to retain benefits of deceased spouses stand to lose a great deal.
Support for Amendment 2 comes primarily from an assortment of churches and religious organizations. They have focused on bigoted claims that homosexual families “subject children to a vast untested social experiment” that is not in their best interest.
However, no supporters dared to face the fierce crowd at the Oct. 18 event. The small coffeehouse was packed with Amendment 2 opponents, who were treated to speeches from both local and state politicians, live music, coffee and discussion.
Many members of the South Florida chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation distributed literature and talked to attendees, being warmly received by the primarily Democratic group.
PSL Congressional candidate Michael Prysner (22nd District-Fla.) took his turn on the microphone to speak against the glaring discrimination contained within the proposal. “Our party is for full equality for LGBT people and equal marriage rights for everyone,” Prysner stated. “All forms of discrimination and bigotry must end, including the repeal of all discriminatory federal, state and local laws. … We are against anything less.”
Speaking to an audience comprised largely of Obama supporters, Prysner felt it was necessary to raise the issues of contention between the PSL and Democrat Barack Obama on same-sex marriage.
“Obama and the democrats have tried to blur this issue trying to find some middle ground, saying they are for some rights, but not all rights. Not the right to marry—essentially, no the right to be treated as a human being,” Prysner said bluntly. “We believe there are only two sides on this issue, either you are for equality or you are for bigotry. … There is no middle ground.”
Prysner received cheers and applause from the audience, whose Democratic inclinations did not stop them from agreeing that Obama and the Democrats are not doing enough for the rights of alternative families.
To find out more about Michael Prysner’s congressional campaign, click here. To find out more about other PSL candidates running on national and local elections, click here.
