Miami Mayor Manny Diaz Against Amendment 2

City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz has come out against Amendment 2. If approved, the amendment would make gay and lesbian marriages illegal, under the Florida constitution. Gay marriage is already illegal in Florida. However, it is not written into the state's constitution.

Here is Diaz' press release.

Press Release

MIAMI, Fla. (September 8, 2008) – City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, opposes Amendment 2. He joins more than 200 prominent leaders and organizations on Florida Red & Blue’s Advisory Board against the so-called “Florida Marriage Protection Amendment.”

“I don’t see how this amendment protects anything,” said Mayor Diaz. “Even worse, it’s vague language could actually take away important existing benefits like health care from Floridians.”

In opposing Amendment 2, Mayor Diaz joins other Florida leaders who oppose Amendment 2, including Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Rep. Luis Garcia, Miami-Dade Commissioners Bruno Barreiro and Carlos Gimenez, and other Miami-area leaders.

The Miami Beach City Commission recently condemned Amendment 2 during its July 16 meeting. Sponsored by Mayor Matti Herrera Bower, the motion was made by Commissioner Richard Steinberg and approved 7-0.

The League of Women Voters, the NAACP, Florida’s Professional Firefighters and the Florida Education Association are among the informed organizations opposing Amendment 2.

Written in vague and undefined language, Amendment 2 could have dramatic consequences for Florida’s committed adults who form domestic partnerships, including unmarried seniors, eliminating their ability to share important health care and pension benefits. Because four existing state laws already define marriage, Amendment 2 is unnecessary and will spark costly litigation in an effort to determine what the amendment really does.

Florida Red & Blue is the bi-partisan, statewide organization running the SayNo2 campaign, which opposes Amendment 2. For more information on Florida Red & Blue’s SayNo2 campaign, please log on to www.SayNo2.com.

Update: Diaz could change many votes in Miami-Dade county. Amendment 2 need 60 voter approval to pass. Losing Miami-Dade county would kill it. At least, I hope so.