Amendment 2 is a mean-spirited, disingenuously worded amendment. Its sole purpose appears to be to cherish and honor the union of a man and a woman -- already enshrined in Florida law -- when, in fact, it is designed to discriminate against gays.

The amendment also will have an adverse impact on unmarried heterosexual couples, especially senior citizens, who live together for economic reasons. But the amendment's clear purpose is to penalize gays for their sexual orientation.

It is appalling, but quite telling, that folks who support this amendment refer to gay relationships the way interracial relationships were described in decades past: unnatural and against God. Today, it is acknowledged that such arguments against interracial relationships are ridiculous.

Unfortunately, this still is not the case regarding gay couples, who inspire fear and loathing in too many people -- many of whom adhere to religious beliefs grounded in love.

I urge Florida voters to reject prejudice, intolerance and hate. Vote No on Amendment 2.

AUGUSTO R. LOPEZ, Coral Gables

Re the Oct. 25 letter Between a man and a woman: The bishops frame their argument solely in the language of religion -- quotations from the Bible, the church's teachings about marriage and the graces to be derived from the sacrament of matrimony.

The fact is, we live in a country dedicated at its core to the rule of law, not the rule of any religion. If this, or any church, wants to deny the sacrament of matrimony to a class of people, that is wholly within its authority. What is specifically outside its authority is the power to deny the legal state of marriage to any citizen: all men, not some men we happen to like better, are created equal. Equal means equal protection under the law.

Our founding fathers chose not to establish a theocracy to prevent legal discrimination in the name of God. We should honor that fundamental principle and reject the mean-spirited Amendment 2.

CHRISTOPHER BARR, Miami