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Petition Signers Against Same-Sex Marriage Exposed
The Christ Church of Peace is publishing the names and addresses of the 400,000 people who support a ban on same-sex marriage, the report said.
The church's pastor, who backs gay marriage, said he wants to add a new Christian voice to the debate about lifestyle his church believes should be legal.
The debate about gay marriage is a private one for many people, but those who signed a petition against the unions have been exposed. "I think it's a right of privacy. If you want it on (the Web site) you should put it on, not somebody else, " said Beverly Hughes.
The posting was an eyeopener for Michelle Chance-Sangthong, according to the WJXT-TV report. She committed to her partner, Toy, surrounded by more than 200 guests -- people she thought supported their union. "We were shocked and saddened to find the very same names that were the first on our guest book were also signatures on this petition that could prevent us from having equal rights," Chance-Sangthong said.
The publication started a debate for Chance-Sangthong, which one group hopes other people will have. "By desiring dialogue with other folk and by supporting all families, straight and gay," said the Rev. Gary Debusk of the Christ Church of Peace.
The amendment up for discussion reads that marriage is,"The legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife," and that, "No other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized." Currently, nearly half a million people have signed the petition and many have been vocal about the issue over the last few months.
"The same-sex marriage would subject our children to a vast, untested social experiment," said Bishop Victor Galeone of the Diocese of St. Augustine. The Christ Church of Peace said it wants to be the Christian voice supporting gay marriages -- a voice some of the church's members said isn't as loud, but just as important, WJXT-TV reported.
"I would at least like the option to become part of his family and him to become part of mine," said legal-gay-marriage advocate Andrew Grayot. Supporters of the new amendment said they need about 100,000 more signatures to get the amendment on the ballot in 2008.