Orlando Mayor Opposes Amendment 2 At PrideFest

Amendment Defines Marriage As Between Man, Woman

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Several amendments will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot in Florida -- including the controversial Amendment 2, which aims to ban gay marriage.

A "Yes" vote on Amendment 2 would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, thus excluding same-sex couples from the opportunity to marry.

This week, an exclusive WESH 2 News poll showed 55 percent of Florida voters said "yes" to the definition of marriage, while 34 percent disagreed.

Mayor Buddy Dyer weighed in on the controversy at the Come Out with Pride Festival at Lake Eola on Sunday.

Dyer said he wants the City Beautiful to be known also as the city fair and equal.

Opponents of Amendment 2, called the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment, said they worry about what it could do to measures like the one passed by the city to extend benefits to same sex couples.

"I want to show them that a majority of Floridians are against the discrimination that Amendment 2 represents," an opponent of the amendment said.

Hundreds of people in Central Florida's gay community turned out for a rally to voice their opposition to Amendment 2.

"When you don't do it right for one group, you'll do it wrong for the next," Orlando City Commissioner Daisy Lynum said.

At the Come Out with Pride Festival, Dyer spoke about the Orlando City Council's decision last week to extend domestic benefits to same sex couples. Dyer said it's a matter of fairness and a way to attract white-collar employees to Orlando.

"One thing that's interesting is economists say the cities that are going to do well in the new economy are those that welcome and promote diversity," Dyer said.

Meanwhile, amendment supporters expressed hope the measure would pass.

"I'm optimistic that it will pass, yes," Amendment 2 supporter Kevin Sullivan. "It needs to pass for the sake of our country."

Sullivan was among a small group of anti-homosexuality demonstrators at the rally. He said he plans to vote in favor of the amendment.

"Our country was founded on the Christian principles of holy matrimony," he said.

It would take a 60 percent "yes" vote statewide to make the amendment a law. However, pollsters said a significant number of undecided voters could be enough to push it through.

Depending on Pop-Up Blocker: Use Browser Back Button or Close Window to Return to Pride Tampa Bay's Website