Marriage equality advocates were promoting a bill at the capitol Wednesday calling for the repeal of an obsolete state law. Blaise Gainey reports the law banned marriage between same sex couples.
In 2015, the US Supreme Court made same sex marriage legal - voiding Florida’s Defense of Marriage Act known as DOMA.
Equality Florida’s John Harris Mower says the DOMA law passed in 1997 is an attack on gay marriage…as is an Executive Order signed by Governor Ron Desantis. The order prohibits discrimination based on several factors like age, race, and religion -- but it does not include the LGBTQ community.
“We had hoped for leadership from Governor Desantis on this issue, and we are deeply disappointed." Mower continued saying, "We intend to reach out to the Governor’s office to understand why our community was omitted from these protections and understand what Governor Desantis will commit to, to ensure non-discrimination protections for all Floridians including LGBTQ Floridians,”
Orlando Democratic Representative Anna Eskamani is sponsoring a bill to repeal DOMA to make sure members of the LGBTQ community are treated equally.
Eskamani said, “Our effort to repeal DOMA is step 1 among many layers of policy that you will see this legislative session. As we continue to beat the drum on marriage equality and LGTBQ rights across our state.”
Bills have been filed in the Florida House and Senate.
