Blacks Might Sway Amendment 2's Vote

Read the article below about how African Americans hold the key for this Amendment 2 vote. It is unfortunate that so many black Americans in this state are so prejudicial toward the GLBT community. They lobby for civil rights all the time, but are ever so ready to deny them to another minority group. It makes no sense to me.

The line snaked across the parking lot, down the block and around the corner on the last day of early voting Saturday at the College Hill Library in Tampa, Florida. Voters in this primarily African American community waited for as long as three hours to cast their ballots. Massive voter registration drives and excitement over presidential candidate Barack Obama are expected to lead to record turnout in this election…And this year’s higher than average African American turnout could make a controversial amendment to the state constitution more likely to pass. WMNF’s Emily Reddy reports.

[Ice cream truck music.] The majority of voters at the College Hill early voting site wore Obama shirts, pins, and stickers. Vendors sold ice cream, barbecue, and bootleg T-shirts. Candidates shook hands and their supporters waved signs. Pastor Ernest Braxton walked back and forth beside the line carrying a sign reading “YesOn2.”

[Yes on 2…Vote for Obama and Yes on 2]

If Amendment 2 passes, the definition of marriage as “one man and one woman” will be added to the Florida state constitution. Pastor Braxton has been working the College Hill voting place every. He and many other religious leaders throughout the state support the amendment, saying Amendment 2 would protect so-called "traditional marriage" and that children are better raised by a married mother and father.

The opponents’ argument -- that the language of the amendment is so broad it would threaten unions similar to marriage, like domestic partnerships -- doesn’t carry any weight with Braxton.

"We feel that God created marriage as the first institution. And we believe that man and woman should get married. You know, if a person been with a person 30 years, they should get married. Why not get married? If you love a person, and committed to them, get married. But we oppose same sex marriage, that’s it."

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