John Stemberger, head of the Orlando-based Florida Family Policy Council, is confident that, starting next fall, traditional marriage will be secure in his state. Twenty-seven states have amended their constitutions to protect traditional marriage.
Stemberger is leading Florida4Marriage.org, which is working to put a marriage amendment on the November 2008 ballot.
"This summer we have received thousands upon thousands of new petitions into our headquarters," he wrote to supporters Tuesday. "While we do not have an exact count, we believe we are well within striking distance of completing the petition goal but not quite there yet."
Petitions can be submitted to Stemberger through Sept. 1. He estimates he has about 650,000; 611,009 signatures are required.
The proposed amendment "protects marriage as the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and provides that no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."
To pass, it must receive 60 percent of the vote. Stemberger is confident that can be done.
"We've just done some polling, and we feel it's strong," he said. "It's going to be a challenge, but we're up for it."
Dr. Bill Maier, vice president and psychologist in residence at Focus on the Family, said: "Marriage celebrates the wonderful human diversity expressed in the two genders, male and female. And since marriage was created by God, it naturally follows that it is a universal human institution.
"The core of the family has always consisted of men and women committing themselves to each other and to cooperatively raising the next generation."
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit the Florida Coalition to Protect Marriage online.
(pd. pol. adv. sponsored by Florida4Marriage.org, PO Box 521339, Longwood, FL 32752-1339, paid for in-kind by Focus on the Family 8605 Explorer Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80920)
