6 same-sex couples sue to lift Florida ban

[ringmastery]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/8435219.htm

KEY WEST - Six same-sex couples and a gay-rights group are suing to reverse Florida's ban on gay marriage, thrusting the state into the politically explosive national battle well under way in California and Massachusetts.

The suit pits same-sex marriage advocates -- living in politically decisive South Florida, with its large gay population -- against the state's conservative governor, Jeb Bush, and his brother, President Bush, who advocates a constitutional amendment defining marriage as heterosexual union.

''I am under no illusion that this is going to be easy or quick,'' said Joan Higgs, 55, one of the plaintiffs in the suit, slated to be filed today in state court in Key West. ``I know we will prevail eventually. I just hope when I can marry my partner, I will still be alive.''

Five couples from the Florida Keys and one from Miami Shores, along with the gay rights advocacy group, Equality Florida, are suing the state. Their lead lawyer is Karen Doering of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the group leading San Francisco's suit against California's same-sex marriage ban. Key West lawyer Alan Eckstein is also representing the couples.

[freetobegay]

1. The number of Plaintiff's will be growing!

eom

[ringmastery]

2. this may be a bad time to sue though

considering how close the state was in 2000. It'll energize the Bush base.

[freetobegay]

3. Sneezing the wrong way will energize his base

It's either now or never!