Six same-sex couples filed suit against the US state of Florida Tuesday for refusing to let them marry, AFP reports. The suit, filed in Miami-Dade county by the couples and the rights group Equality Florida, was immediately slammed by conservatives. "Marriage equality is inevitable and coming soon for Floridians because brave couples are demanding the dignity under the law that marriage provides," said Daniel Tilley, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. "We are hopeful that the court hearing this case will agree with courts across the country that the constitution requires that same-sex couples be permitted to marry," he added. But John Stemberger, who heads the conservative Florida Family Policy Council and led the 2008 referendum movement against same-sex marriage in the state, called the new lawsuit a publicity stunt. Following the referendum, Florida's constitution was amended to bar same-sex marriage.
Six same-sex couples filed suit against the US state of Florida Tuesday for refusing to let them marry, AFP reports.
The suit, filed in Miami-Dade county by the couples and the rights group Equality Florida, was immediately slammed by conservatives.
"Marriage equality is inevitable and coming soon for Floridians because brave couples are demanding the dignity under the law that marriage provides," said Daniel Tilley, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.
"We are hopeful that the court hearing this case will agree with courts across the country that the constitution requires that same-sex couples be permitted to marry," he added.
But John Stemberger, who heads the conservative Florida Family Policy Council and led the 2008 referendum movement against same-sex marriage in the state, called the new lawsuit a publicity stunt.
Following the referendum, Florida's constitution was amended to bar same-sex marriage.