Key West city leaders wade into gay marriage debate

Key Wst Citizen & Bait Wrapper ^ | March 13, 2004 | TIMOTHY O'HARA

[Elle Bee]

Key West city leaders wade into gay marriage debate

Both county and state officials say Florida law prohibits gay marriage

BY TIMOTHY O'HARA

keysnews.com

KEY WEST — Key West city leaders are entering the national showdown over the legitimacy of gay marriages by considering giving legal recognition to same-sex marriages.

The city commission, which will review a resolution Tuesday that supports and gives legal recognition to same-sex marriages, could end up in a face-off with the state.

Commissioner Tom Oosterhoudt, sponsor of the resolution, and community leaders are calling the debate over same-sex marriages as the new civil rights movement. The resolution proposes to recognize marriages between gay, bisexual and transgendered people.

The proposed ordinance comes as the California Supreme Court is putting the kibosh on same-sex marriages in San Francisco and Massachusetts lawmakers are giving preliminary approval to a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriages in the only state that has recognized the unions. President Bush has pledged his support of changing the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriages. The proposed constitutional change is cited in the city's proposed resolution.

Mayor Jimmy Weekley also sponsored a resolution asking Monroe County Clerk of Courts Danny Kolhage to give a legal opinion on the matter. However, Kolhage said the matter is beyond his control.

"State law is very clear on this," Kolhage said. "It's not up to me. I only have ministerial function."

The state only recognizes marriages if "one party is a male and the other party is a female," Florida Statute 741.04 reads. Gov. Jeb Bush's office echoed Kolhage's position.

"A resolution supporting same-sex marriage would be in direct conflict with Florida statute," said Jill Bratina, a spokeswoman for the governor.

The commission will discuss the resolutions Tuesday night. If the resolutions pass, the commission is slated to take a recess and a brief celebration will be held on Old City Hall steps, Weekley said.

"The city commission finds any attempt to codify discrimination into the United States Constitution repugnant and anathema to the tradition of equality that we as a people hold dear," the resolution states. "The United States Constitution was designed and written to protect the rights of the minority from the tyranny of the majority .... Key West City Commission supports the concept of same-sex marriage as providing family stability and personal happiness to gay and lesbian couples."

The resolution would also mention the commission's support of the efforts of the city of San Francisco.

The resolution would seek to give gay couples insurance packages and other benefits enjoyed by married couples.

"This is not about religion, but about civil rights," said Michael Kilgore, editor of Celebrate.

tohara@keysnews.com

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Commissioner Tom Oosterhoudt, sponsor of the resolution

Keep those e-mails coming to the Colorful Commish at TomO@oosterbooster.com

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[Elle Bee]

Key West Says No to War with Iraq ~ Useful Idiots Alert

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Local (Key West) gay couple to challenge marriage law

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Key West targets homeless camps in wetlands - says action is pro-environmental, not anti-homeless

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Boat Blows Docking [Schooner Wharf - Key West]

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It’s Okay For a Cop (the New Key West Police Chief) To Have sex With a Minor (17 yr old boy)

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[goldstategop]

Liberals are just running with this. I love you people - keep up the good work!

[jsh3180]

That's pretty humorous as usual with the KW City Commission. I live in the Lower Keys, 17 miles from Key West and have followed their antics for years. As usual they are about two months behind the liberal curve.

[goldstategop]

They're as tiny as their famous deer - only its in their minds.

[Sam Cree]

"Key West city leaders wade into gay marriage debate"

Of course they do. Like the rising sun follows the night.

[goldstategop]

Is their something about living on islands that makes people imbeciles? Must be the water for Hawaii is just as liberal and amended its state Constitution to ban gay marriage and civil unions.

[longtermmemmory]

they are probably jealous, they live are keys. keys are smaller than islands. Its an insecurity thing for them.

[KeyWest]

Lived there from 54-86. My dad had a street named for him.

It always was a homosexual magnet and now, even more so.

Even more, most all the city officials and gov was crooked. One was a close family friend - BC Pappy, noted as one of the top ten crooked politicians in the US.

But as my Mom said when I asked her why she voted for them every year- "They are our crooks."

[reg45]

"This is not about religion, but about civil rights," said Michael Kilgore, editor of Celebrate.

What planet is he from? Religion IS a civil right.

[goldstategop]

Liberals think religious people have no rights. They can never relax lest mention of God and his strict ways come back to haunt their newly-won libertine lifestyle.

[Elle Bee]

the Bubba System is infuriating

and not likely to change unless the entire town is RICOed

everything goes to the 25 or so members of the 1st State Bank ... owned by a family (Spotswood) singled out by Hemmingway in To Have and Have Not

I'ts become a haven for Ed Swift's Historic Tours (Conch Trains), cruse ships and middle eastern types washing cash in tacky tee shirt tops

The city government is inept and corrupt (not necessaraly in that order) and the county government is not far behind

the police force is out of control and every bubba with a voter registration card has a city job and a car to take home

and it won't change

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[Elle Bee]

I used to live up on Cudjoe ... now I'm in Old Town and I have to see it evey day

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[Elle Bee]

those deer are inbread not endangered

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[goldstategop]

Inbred... just like the Keys' liberals.

[jsh3180]

Good to see a fellow Free Republic reader (or writer) from the Keys. I live on Sugarloaf Key and have been here since 1976. I have to admit when I came here in '76 I was a screaming liberal, but after raising three kids here and having my own business, my views have turned 180 degrees many years ago.

[atomicpossum]

I think the warm weather and constant sunshine numbs their brains.

[Savage Beast]

Hey, I thought everybody in Key West was gay. I thought you had to be--some ordinance or something.

[little jeremiah]

Homosexual Agenda Ping - they just won't quit, will they?

Let me know if anyone wants on/off this pinglist.

[EdReform]

Bump

What We Can Do To Help Defeat the "Gay" Agenda

Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links (Version 1.1)

The Stamp of Normality

[Trillian]

First they want the government out of their bedrooms, now they want the government in. Which is it you mentally disturbed homos?

[Elle Bee]

I don't think they actually want to marry ... they just want to destroy the concept of marrage

incramentalism at its finest

they want everyone to accept their 'lifestyle' as 'normal'

the claim that they are 'born gay' is an attempt to have their 'lifestyle choice' defined as imutable and thereby protected (and litigated) under Title

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[tutstar]

Thanks for posting this, we have lame media in Jacksonville.

[Elle Bee]

this is the one which frightens me even more:

It’s Okay For a Cop (the New Key West Police Chief) To Have sex With a Minor (17 yr old boy)

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[tutstar]

That is an unbelievable situation. Sounds like the libs have snuck into offices unawares. I am convinced we must keep a closer eye on the legislations proposed and passed and the backgrounds of those running for office and inform others in our area. Fl Sen Pres Jim King is no conservative yet none of his really inflamatory statements are making it into the Jacksonville news.
Keep up the good work!!

[KeyWest]

Spotwood's still at it! Back when I lived there, one was the Monroe county sheriff. Eventually got nailed for participating in drug running (from Cuba).

The local police never quite made it down to the level of the Sheriff's department.

[Elle Bee]

the city PD has surpassed the County as the county has become more conservative as people move in the scoundrels ... not unlike the indians of old ... are bunched up on Cayo Huseo

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[marksalot]

Pretty soon there'll be a bar on every corner.

[Elle Bee]

Key West city commissioners will take a break during tonight's meeting to recognize same-sex marriages, if the commission passes two resolutions supporting the issue. The city is part of the "White Ribbon Equality" campaign, which aims to send a message to President Bush that Key West promotes equality.

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