In Florida: An Extreme Religious Freedom Bill Introduced

Foolishness in Florida!

State Rep. Julio Gonzalez filed a religious freedom bill that is completely bogus and ridic. HB 401 is Gonzalez's response to (as he claims) the erosion of religious liberty.

This bill basically denies LGBT peeps regular access to everything things like, medical care and for-profit businesses.

Here's more from Equality Florida:

“This extreme bill doesn’t affirm existing law; it goes much further than that. In addition to churches, it would allow individuals, for-profit businesses, health care providers, non-profit adoption agencies and others to discriminate against anyone they want, for personal reasons.

Legal experts say this bill is even worse than the disastrous Indiana bill that sparked a nationwide backlash. Indiana’s governor called a hasty special session to repeal that costly mistake.

Not only would passing this bill tell the rest of the country that Florida is a mean-spirited, discriminatory state. It would also allow a healthcare provider to deny reproductive and contraceptive services to women; retailers to refuse service to LGBT people; a day care to refuse admittance of a child with LGBT parents, and many other outcomes we believe most people would find deeply unfair.”

Read it here:

HB 401 - Protection of Religious Freedom (Florida)

In Florida: Gay marriage stay lifted in Miami-Dade County

So much drama in Florida over gay marriage.

Finally, the judge lifts the stay in Miami-Dade County.

Here's more

Miami-Dade County will become the first place in Florida to allow same-sex couples to marry on Monday, 13 hours before a gay-marriage ban that has been ruled unconstitutional is lifted in the rest of the state.

In an 11 a.m. hearing, Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel lifted the legal stay she had placed on her sweeping July decision declaring the ban discriminatory. Clerk of Courts Harvey Ruvin has said he will allow same-sex marriages to begin immediately.

Elsewhere in Florida, most court clerks will start marrying gay couples Tuesday — some of them at 12:01 a.m. — following a federal judge's order. Several counties in conservative North Florida have stopped marrying people altogether, in part to avoid marrying same-sex couples.

U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle of Tallahassee declared the state ban unconstitutional in August, but stayed his decision through Monday to let legal appeals run their course. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a Republican, sought extensions of the stay from the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court, but both turned her down.

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Anti-Gay Hag Pam Bondi punts gay-marriage ruling back to Federal Judge

This damn Pam Bondi.

This cretin has now asked the judge to clarify his ruling, because the judge is best person to explain the scope of his ruling? It makes no sense, she's being a dick about this.

Here's her press release:

Pursuant to an order from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, the Attorney General’s Office today filed the attached response to the Washington County Clerk of Court’s Emergency Motion for Clarification. The widespread confusion that now exists, as evidenced by multiple media reports, is precisely what the Attorney General’s Office sought to avoid while seeking a stay pending final resolution in favor of either side of the issue. As stated in the response filed today, if the federal court intended the injunction to have effects beyond those that appear on its face, the court may wish to provide appropriate clarification.

Read her broke ass response and more about this "punt"

Florida AG Pam Bondi is Hurt because she LOST!

"Tonight, the United States Supreme Court denied the State’s request for a stay in the case before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Regardless of the ruling it has always been our goal to have uniformity throughout Florida until the final resolution of the numerous challenges to the voter-approved constitutional amendment on marriage. Nonetheless, the Supreme Court has now spoken, and the stay will end on Jan. 5."

From her raggedy press release

Pam Bondi DENIED! Supreme Court refuses to Halt Same Sex Marriages in Florida

from Buzzfeed

This is so good!

When AG Pam Bondi heard that SCOTUS would look at her request to halt marriage equality in Florida, I bet she was patting herself on the back. Well, too bad it was all in vain. SCOTUS refused her messy request and now, gay marriages can proceed after Jan. 5.

The decision means, absent some unexpected development, that same-sex couples will be able to marry beginning January 6. 

Under the trial court’s order striking down the ban as unconstitutional, the injunction was stayed — or put on hold — until the end of the day January 5. State officials have appealed the ruling striking down the ban, but also asked higher courts to keep the trial court’s order on hold during that appeal. 

The 11th Circuit had rejected Florida’s request and, on Friday evening, the Supreme Court did as well. Justice Clarence Thomas, who hears such applications from the 11th Circuit, referred the matter to the full court, which then denied the request.
Both Thomas and Justice Antonin Scalia, the brief order noted, would have granted the request. The two previously have noted that they would grant such stay requests during appeals of other marriage ban cases.

I hope she's crushed! I would pay to see it!

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AG Pam Bondi continues her Losing Fight against Gay Marriage in Florida

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi will not stop this foolishness!

Over a week ago, the 11th Circuit Court of denied her demand to extend a temporary stay of the marriage ruling. That stay will dissolve on January 5th and gays will be able to marry, but this heifer won't stop!

Pam has filed a motion with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas asking for another stay on the marriage ruling. Girl, give it up! Why can't you see that you are wasting folks' time and money on a losing battle.

I get that you want to be seen as a fighter for marriage, but please, drop it.

You just look like an idiot for pushing this. A flat out idiot!

Florida Gov. Rick Scott clowns at debate over a Fan

So, this is some mess.

During the debate, Rick Scott didn't want to come on stage because Charlie Crist had a fan blowing on him.

CNN reports

Scott's Democratic challenger, former Gov. Charlie Crist, had set up a small fan underneath his podium, apparently trying to keep himself from sweating under the Broward College stage's lights. Scott saw the fan, a prop that often accompanies Crist at public appearances, as a violation of the debate's rules and said he wouldn't participate.
The moderators tried to explain the disagreement while Republicans in the audience chided Crist for breaking rules -- at least as Scott saw them -- against props on stage.

See for yourself

AG Pam Bondi desperately runs to Florida Supreme Court to decide Gay Marriage

What is she doing?

Last night, Attorney General Pam "She Mess" Bondi now wants the Florida Supreme Court to decide gay marriage in Florida once and for all. So, why this move? Basically, she trapped and has nowhere else to turn.

In her statement, she wrote:

“That is unquestionably an important issue, and the Plaintiffs, the State, and all citizens deserve a definitive answer. Until recently, the issue was squarely before the United States Supreme Court, and it appeared that a definitive answer was coming. ... Unfortunately, the United States Supreme Court decided not to answer the question.”

And

“Florida’s courts will therefore need to resolve the issue without further United States Supreme Court guidance. Because there are cases pending in multiple districts, and because this is an issue of great public importance that now warrants immediate Florida Supreme Court review, the State respectfully suggests pass-through certification.”

Miss Mess is wasting tax payers' money on a losing battle.

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Florida's Rep. Rob DeSantis: GOP Will Always BeThe Anti-Gay Party

In Florida: Gov. Scott wants to Appeal the Marriage Ban

Oh, Florida...

After the hateful gay marriage ban was dropped in the state, Gov. Rick Scott and friends want to appeal that decision.

From the Florida ACLU press release:

Today, defendants in two federal lawsuits challenging Florida’s marriage ban – Governor Scott appointees John Armstrong (Surgeon General) and Craig Nichols (Secretary of the Department of Management Services), and Washington County Clerk of Court Harold Bazzell— filed a notice that they are appealing the August 21 ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle overturning Florida’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples.

The ruling, a result of two separate federal lawsuits—one brought by the ACLU of Florida, the other brought by Jacksonville attorneys William Sheppard and Sam Jacobson—made Florida the 16th state in which a federal court has found a marriage ban unconstitutional since the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down the main provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

This is so stupid! Really? They want to waste money on this? Good luck, NOT!

Federal Judge strikes down Florida Gay Marriage Ban

This is it!

A federal judge has struck down the gay marriage ban in Florida!

Here are the details:

U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle in Tallahassee ruled Thursday that the ban added to Florida's constitution by voters in 2008 violates the 14th Amendment's guarantees of equal protection and due process.

Hinkle issued a stay delaying the effect of his order, meaning no marriage licenses will be immediately issued for gay couples.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has appealed the previous rulings striking down the ban in Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties.

The judge will allow time for an appeal, but it's just a waste of time.

Read the ruiling

4:14-cv-00107 #74 Florida Preliminary Injunction

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In Florida: Family says Church canceled Funeral because Son was Gay - WATCH

WFLA News Channel 8

Florida now recognizes Same-Sex marriages from other States

This is so good!

Circuit Judge Dale Cohen ordered the state of Florida to recognize gay marriages performed in other states. They are really moving forward in that crazy state.

More to come.

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Rick Scott on Gay Marriage Ruling in Florida

Florida's Attorney General said Same Sex Marriages would "impose significant public harm.

Is Florida's attorney general serious?

In March, 8 same-sex couples filed for the right to recognize same sex marriages from other states. With all of the other suits having success, you would think it would be easy, right?

Well, no. The Attorney General Pam Bondi is against the idea. In fact she thinks it would "impose significant public harm." Her, along with Gov. Rick Scott filed a response asking to throw out the lawsuit for several reasons, saying a federal court shouldn't rule on a state's marriage laws.

Here's more

Bondi's office also argues that the state has a legitimate interest in defining marriage as between a man and woman. Florida first banned same-sex marriages nearly two decades ago and voters reinforced that ban when they passed a constitutional amendment in 2008.

"Florida's marriage laws, then, have a close, direct, and rational relationship to society's legitimate interest in increasing the likelihood that children will be born to and raised by the mothers and fathers who produced them in stable and enduring family units," Bondi's office said in court documents.

Folks on our side, wasn't having any of that:

Florida's Democrats and gay rights groups were also highly critical of Bondi's legal response as was one of Bondi's political opponents.

But the attorney general's office said they had an obligation to defend the state's existing laws.

"Florida's voters approved a constitutional amendment, which is being challenged, and it is the Attorney General's duty to defend Florida law," said Florida Solicitor General Allen Winsor.

Winsor also insisted that the harm mentioned in the filing had to do with the legal challenge itself.

"Florida is harmed whenever a federal court enjoins enforcement of its laws, including the laws at issue here," he said.

More to come

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The Michael Dunn's Mistrial opens up Old Wounds in Florida

Florida loves to cause racial dis-harmony.

Yesterday was the closing of the Michael Dunn trial.

Real Quick Info: Michael Dunn got into an argument with some Black teens over their loud music. He wanted them to cut it down, then argument escalated and Michael start shooting at them, killing 17-year-old Jordan Davis.

Michael was put on trail for 1st degree murder. After days of deliberations, the jurors found Michael guilty of three counts of attempted 2nd degree murder and a count of firing into an occupied car. However, a mistrial was declared on the 1st murder charge.

Each of the 2nd degree murder charges count for 30 years, and other charge counts up to 15 years. So Michael could serve 75 years in jail. But the issue is the 1st degree murder charge. Why did that one end up as a mistrial? And why was he charged for attempting to kill vs the ACTUAL KILLING? And who in the frak are these fu*king jurors? My God!

My heart goes out to the Davis family. They have to live through this. They have to live with that fact their son's life didn't count for much. Michael thought he could kill four people and claim he was defending himself... Please.

I hope he goes to prison for a long ass time. He deserves that.

Somebody Lay Hands on Joshua Black

Florida House candidate Joshua Black is thirsty for attention. So much, that he tweeted this mess yesterday.

Well, he got dragged up and down by folks for this foolishness and wasn't prepared for the backlash. So today, he wrote this on his FB page.

So how do you ruin your political career? Just follow this guy.

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Six Same-sex Couples file Lawsuit hoping to Overturn the Gay Marriage Ban in Florida

Go Florida!

Six same-sex couples and Equality Florida Institute are trying to overturn the gay marriage ban in the state. They have filed a lawsuit in Florida state court in Miami in hopes of gaining Marriage Equality.

The couples involved are Catherina Pareto and Karla Arguello; Dr. Juan Carlos Rodriguez and David Price; Vanessa and Melanie Alenier; Todd and Jeff Delmay; Summer Greene and Pamela Faerber; and Don Price Johnston and Jorge Isaias Diaz. Some of these couples have families and one couple has two grandchildren.

They are represented by the law firm Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, attorney Elizabeth F. Schwartz, attorney Mary B. Meeks, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Please go here for more

In Florida: Man shoots someone over Texting in a Theater - WATCH

Teen Arrested and Expelled because of a Same-Sex Relationship

This is one for the books.

In a Florida high school, Kaitlyn Hunt was not only expelled, but arrested for dating another student. The reason is because Kaitlyn is 18 and the student is 15. But the REAL reason is because it was a same-sex relationship.

Here's more:

Kaitlyn Hunt was arrested in February at the behest of her 15-year-old girlfriend’s parents and charged with two felony counts of lewd and lascivious battery of a child 12 to 16 years old. 

A judge ruled that Hunt could still go to her Sebastian, Fla., school if she did not have contact with the 15-year-old. Unhappy with that decision, the girlfriend’s parents also made an appeal to the school board, and Hunt was then expelled from Sebastian River High School just weeks before her graduation. 

Her mother, Kelley Hunt Smith, claims State Attorney Brian Workman offered her daughter a plea deal that she has until Friday to accept or face trial. The plea deal includes “two years house arrest and one year probation.” 

Her father, Steven R. Hunt, said the school disapproved of the relationship from the beginning. Hunt reportedly had good grades and participated in cheerleading, chorus and basketball. She was voted “most school spirited.” But when she began dating another girl from the basketball team, her coach dropped her citing that the relationship would cause “drama.” 

Hunt’s family started a petition on Change.org asking people to “Stop the prosecution of 18 year old girl in a same-sex relationship” and calling it a “cruel waste of our taxes.” The petition, addressed to the Indian River County State Attorney’s Office, has more than 28,500 signatures so far.

This issue is far from over. Support for Kaitlyn is growing. I can't believe the parents of the other girl would do this. They are really contending for Parents of the Year.

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