Stunning Defeat for Anti-Marriage Resolution in Ft. Lauderdale

I just got this via email from Yes2Marriage.Org, my thoughts after the rest of the quote after the jump.

BREAKING NEWS:

Tuesday October 7, 2008

HUGE EMBARRASSMENT TO GAY ACTIVISTS IN SOUTH FLORIDA

AS FORT LAUDERDALE CITY COMMISSION FAILS TO

PASS ANTI-MARRIAGE AMENDMENT RESOLUTION

Resolution fails to garner even a single vote by a City Commissioner to introduce it– much less pass it.

100% of citizens appearing at the hearing spoke in favor of traditional marriage and Amendment 2.

(FORT LAUDERDALE) Tonight, the City Commission of Fort Lauderdale, the city with the largest gay population in the state, failed to pass a previously scheduled resolution on the agenda to oppose Amendment 2, the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment. The measure was expected to pass by a 4 to 1 margin, but in a surprise upset it failed.

100% of the citizens appearing at the city commission hearing spoke in favor of Amendment 2 which will protect the definition of marriage between one man and a woman in the state constitution. The previously filed resolution by Commissioner Hutchinson failed after no commissioner would even introduce it.

“For the citizens of Fort Lauderdale, and for the entire state of Florida this is a huge victory for supporters of Amendment 2 and a huge embarrassment to our opponents who lacked the political muscle to even get this measure a nomination." said Scott Spages, the Broward County Chairman for Yes2Marriage.org .

Among the Fort Lauderdale residents who testified include Yes2Marriage.org Broward County leaders Scott Spages and Jannique Stewart. An associate pastor of First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale who read an official statement on behalf of the senior pastor Dr. Larry Thompson and the leadership of the entire church urging that the anti-marriage resolution and in favor of voting yes on Amendment 2. Also David Hecht, Senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Hollywood spoke in favor of Amendment 2 and against the anti-marriage resolution.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle read a portion of the Florida Catholic Bishops official statement on Amendment 2 into the record which reads in part…”

"Our support for this proposed constitutional amendment is not motivated by discrimination or animosity toward any group. The amendment does not affect benefits offered or contracted in the private sector. Health care and government benefits currently being received by individuals, including seniors, will not be impacted. Through proper legal consultation for estate planning, health and end-of-life care, family members or others may be granted many of the same rights and privileges available to a spouse."

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While I love my friends at Yes2Marriage… I don't know how beneficial it is to point out the embarrassment of Gay Activists. You can't really know if they are and if they are … what benefit is it to point it out? It's gotten rough here in Florida about this campaign so I can see combativeness creeping in … I am not condemning … just wondering.

I didn't actually know this was going on to begin with so I am stunned 1) that it happened and 2) it failed … miserably. There has got to be more to the story. I can't believe not a single person came to oppose Amendment 2 and support a City Council resolution to condemn it. I mean … we are talking Ft. Lauderdale folks. There is a huge gay community there that is well organized and active.

I know Major Jim Naugle is a very outspoken conservative Christian. He started his tenure being very clear that he was against public anonymous gay sex. He has drawn the ire of the gay community in South Florida and around the country big time. It is very peculiar that no one showed up to oppose him on this. Don't get me wrong… I am glad it failed. I am just convinced that there is more to the story. Not that Yes2Marriage was trying to convince me otherwise … just sayin'. The fireworks might not have happened at the meeting but I bet you will start seeing some soon.