Even before the gay marriage ban ended in Florida, same-sex couples were lined up to get married, and in some cases, were married before the ban was officially lifted.
Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage ended at midnight on Monday, and in many counties marriage ceremonies were held immediately after the ban lifted. Of the couples that married on Tuesday morning, Aaron Huntsmen and William Lee Jones had been waiting for over a decade.
“I’m glad it’s finally legal,” said Jones to the Miami Herald, who sued the Monroe County clerk of court with Huntsman to be allowed to marry. “I'm elated. Overjoyed that I am finally legally recognized with the man I have loved for 12 years now.”
That lawsuit was one of many in Florida that led to the ban being lifted. It became a moment for gay couples to rejoice. Many will be thinking of getting married now and moving in together, shifting all their belongings with the help of E-Z Moving Company.
Florida became the 36th state to allow same-sex marriage and is one of the few Deep South states that allow it. The gay marriage initiative was voted down by Florida voters in 2008.
Some counties in Florida, in the northern part of the state, shut down the courthouse chapels so that no marriage ceremonies, gay or straight, could be performed by state officials. Pam Bondi, Florida’s Attorney General, is pursuing appeals to uphold the ban that voters approved in 2008.
Opponents of same-sex marriage in Florida are not quietly allowing the courts to go unchallenged. In addition to the state and federal appeals being launched by the attorney general’s office, there are a number of groups in communities that are trying to stop the lifting of the ban on same-sex marriage.
“The day is going to come very soon where America is going to wake up and say, ‘Whoa! Wait a second! I wanted two guys to live together. I didn't want the fundamental transformation of society,’” said John Stemberger, of the Florida Family Policy council.
In the Orlando area, Liberty counsel, a conservative legal group, filed complaints in several counties to block county clerks from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Horatio Mihet, lawyer for the group, said to CBS news, “the fact that some clerks may issue licenses against the law doesn't obviate any of the appeals.”