Welcome to

A half dozen couples who were married in other states, or who want to be married in Florida, are asking Attorney General Pam Bondi to drop her appeal of last weeks court ruling that found the state’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional.

One week to the day since a judge ruled Florida’s ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional, A half dozen couples delivered seven thousand petitions to the Attorney General. They want her to drop her appeal of the decision.

“How many of you want to get married to each other?” we asked. Wo Wo, Everybody. Some of us are.” How many are people are legally married in other states?” as hands from most went up in the air. Nancy Brown says marriage in Florida would be special.

“We live here. We’ve been here our entire lives, we want to get married with our friends and family.”

Several of the couples have been married 30 years or longer. “And we’ve been together 40 years” responded one woman.

Still they want their union recognized by their home state. Sheila Ortiz Taylor says not being legally married is sending the wrong message to her kids and grandkids. “We want to be recognized as citizens of Florida.”

“It’s very simple. It’s not complicated at all” says partner Joy Lyn Lewis.

As the group posed for pictures, the language of the state Constitution over their shoulders guaranteed equal civil and political rights to all. Robin Gray says the words should have meaning.“Well, they shouldn’t be hollow words. Equal rights should be afforded to all people who choose to get married.”

The Attorney General has said in court filings that voters had the right to define marriage as between a man and a woman, and she says they have the right to change it in the future if they want.

And Chris and Sean Cooey believe that  change is inevitable. “And we shouldn’t have to be tied down by legal loopholes, or an appeal from the Attorney General for us to be able to start a family” says Sean of their five year partnership.

The Protection of Marriage Act was approved by 4.8 million voters in 2008.

Unless the Protection of Marriage Act in the Constitution is ruled unconstitutional under Federal law, changing it would require 60 percent of the electorate.