‘Yes on 2’ launched in 10 cities across Florida

JAMES A. SMITH SR.

John Stemberger and senior citizens in Tallahassee announce April 17 new name – ‘Yes on 2’ – for campaign to pass Florida state constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage.

Editor’s note: This story will be updated with reports from news events at other locations as information becomes available.

TALLAHASSEE (FBW) – Leaders of a coalition advocating a constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage announced April 17 a new name for the effort – “Yes on 2” – at 10 news conferences across Florida.

In events in Tallahassee and nine other cities, hundreds of senior citizens also spoke in favor of the marriage amendment, refuting opponents who claim that seniors’ benefits will be jeopardized by the marriage amendment.

Voters will consider Amendment 2 in November. The amendment says, “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.”

Formerly known as “Florida4Marriage.org,” coalition leader John Stemberger said the new name, “Yes on 2,” with a new Web site: Yes2Marriage.org, offers a “positive emphasis. We are here for marriage and we’re saying ‘yes’ to marriage.”

Stemberger, an Orlando attorney, is president of Florida Family Policy Council (FFPC).

“A vote on Amendment 2 does one thing and one thing alone – it defines marriage as a union of a man and a woman, as husband and wife, and it does not prohibit the government or any private companies from extending benefits to any one at all,” Stemberger said, noting that 27 states have adopted similar state constitutional amendments.

“We are in this for the long run and so we’re seeking to protect marriage in the most lasting way possible and that is to enshrine the statutory definition of marriage that’s currently on the books into the state constitution so that it could never be struck down by a judge or even by a legislature, for that matter,” Stemberger said.

Nathan Dunn, vice president of FFPC, said that among the other events being held in nine other cities to launch the new campaign was a marriage vow renewal ceremony of about 100 at First Baptist Church in Naples.

By the end of May organizers expect to have at least 30 local groups to promote the marriage amendment.

Noting that seniors were heavily targeted in Arizona in 2006 where the only state constitutional amendment failed, Stemberger said, “Our opponents … are attempting to scare seniors by saying they’re going to deny [them] benefits.”

The seniors participating at the Tallahassee and other news conferences are “here to say that that’s not true, that they support Amendment 2,” he added.

Joining the Tallahassee news conference, Ken and Barbra Boucher, of Sarasota and married 54 years, lead Golden Heirs, a national non-profit organization for couples who have been married at least 50 years.

“We’re here today to celebrate the institution of marriage and show our support for Amendment 2 because marriage between a man and a woman is in the best interest of children, families, and the common good of society,” Ken Boucher said.

Quoting comedian Bill Cosby, Barbara Boucher said: “For two people in a marriage to live together day after day is unquestionably the one miracle the Vatican has overlooked. And marriage is a miracle.”

“Our opponents, no question, are waging a campaign of fraud and deception, really trying to scare and intimidate senior citizens. That’s not right; that’s just not right,” Finnegan said.

“I want to be clear that we senior citizens – at least myself – will not be fooled by this attack on the marriage and the family based on dishonesty and deception. Shame on them for thinking that we as senior citizens can’t think anymore, that we’re somehow going to be buffaloed or hoodwinked …,” he said.

“Homosexual activists know that if they campaign under the gay marriage effort they will lose, as they have in 27 other states. And so they have to resort to this dishonest strategy,” Finnegan said.

Responding to reporters’ questions, Stemberger added, “The value that marriage brings to society is devalued when you begin to tamper with it. … When you unlock that door, there’s really no end to it,” warning that if “gay marriage” is permitted, there would be no basis to oppose polygamy, group marriage and other aberrant relationships.

Stemberger said the coalition’s private polling suggests seniors are among the strongest supporters of traditional marriage, which is why opponents are targeting them.

Acknowledging the 60 percent supermajority needed to pass a constitutional amendment in Florida will make the task difficult, Stemberger said, “It’s going to be a very close race, there’s no question about it.”