STATUS: Anti-relationship recognition constitutional amendment

TAKE ACTION: State advocacy groups are working toward fairness for all of Florida's families by overturning a constitutional amendment that prohibits all forms of family status for same-sex couples in the state.

HISTORY: In 2008, anti-gay forces in Florida pushed through an anti-marriage constitutional amendment that excluded same-sex couples from marriage and prohibited same-sex couples from attaining any form of legal family status.

Several jurisdictions, including Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, have passed benefits for domestic partners.

POLLING DATA: Voters in Florida are moving on marriage, with 75% saying they support either marriage or civil union for same-sex couples. (Public Policy Polling, March 2013) 

GROUPS ACTIVELY WORKING ON MARRIAGE:

• Equality Florida is a statewide education and advocacy organization dedicated to eliminating discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender and class.
• Florida Together is a federation of organizations committed to achieving equality and justice for LGBT Floridians.
• ACLU of Florida is the state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union.
• Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage for same-sex couples nationwide. 
• Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. 

NUMBER OF SAME-SEX COUPLES: According to The Williams Institute's analysis of the 2010 U.S. Census, 48,496 same-sex couples are living in Florida, representing 6.5 same-sex couples per 1,000 households.

FREEDOM TO MARRY COUPLE STORIES:

• Jonathan Franqui & Dwayne Beebe, Pensacola, FL