Miami-Dade Court makes history; marries first gay couples in Florida
Miami-Dade County made history by conducting Florida’s first gay marriage on Monday, the first county in the state to recognize same-sex couples in a district courtroomhalf a day before a ban is lifted in the rest of the state. SEE ALSO: What the SCOTUS decision on gay marriage means for immigrants Around 1:30 p.m. two of the original six gay couples who sued the state along with advocacy group Equality Florida, were the first to be married: Catherine Pareto and Karla Arguello, of Coconut Grove and Jeff and Todd Delmay of Hollywood. They were married by Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Sarah Zabel, the same judge who lifted the stay on her ruling that declared Floridas same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional. Earlier in the day Judge Zabel offered guidance to Miami-Dade Conty Clerk of Courts Harvey Ruvin, after U.S. federal Judge Hinkle cleared the way for marriage in all of Floridas 67 counties. On the first of the year, Judge Hinkle cleared the final hurdle by clarifying that his ruling applied to all clerks of court in Florida, that they’d be in violation of the constitution if they enforced Florida’s ban on gay marriage. The instructions to the clerk cleared a major hurdle for advocates of gay marriage, because originally Greenberg Traurig, the law firm that acts as Counsel for the Florida Association of Clerks of Court, had said that Judge Hinkle’s ruling only applied to Washington County, because only Lora C. Bell, the Clerk of Court and Comptroller for Washington County, was a party to the lawsuit. The motion comes as clerks across Florida prepare to begin issuing marriage licenses for gay couples on January 6th. The motion to lift the stay notes that such a move has led other state courts to allow marriages to commence immediately, stated Equality Florida in a press release issued this week. Florida’s first gay marriage takes place in Miami The two gay marriage ceremonies at the Miami-Dade District court in Downtown Miami were done with much fanfare; TV news cameras were present, with family and friends surrounding the two couples, cheering them on as they exchanged rings. In the big picture, does it really matter whether or not I lift the stay or leave it until tomorrow? Zabel said from the bench. Im lifting the stay, referring to moving ahead before midnight January 6th, the time when Judge Robert Hinkle’s ruling, from Tallahassee, goes into effect for the rest of the state. The cheers in the courthouse reflect how much the nation’s third-largest state has changed since the days of Anita Bryant, the former beauty pageant queen and orange juice spokeswoman who started her national campaign against gay rights in Miami in the 1970s. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Cathy Pareto, who wed Karla Arguello, her partner of 15 years. “Finally Florida recognizes us as a couple. It’s just, I don’t know, sweet justice.” But signs of opposition were evident farther north, where more conservative Floridians live. In Jacksonville, Duval County Court Clerk Ronnie Fussell shut down the courthouse chapel, saying no marriage ceremonies — either gay or straight — would be allowed there. At least two other counties in northeast Florida did the same. “Mr. Fussell said some of his people felt a little uncomfortable doing it,” said his spokesman, Charlie Broward. “It could cause discriminations down there (in the marriage license department) with those who are uncomfortable. We wanted to eliminate any unfairness.” SEE ALSO: Ted Cruz slams SCOTUS decision on gay marriage Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a staunch conservative, legally fought to prevent gay marriage in the state, along with the support of Governor Rick Scott, however, this final clarification was not further challenged by her. As for Miami-Dade County, Judge Zabel had already scheduled a hearing on her calendar for Monday to clarify to clerk Ruvin whether he had to follow the decision regarding Washington County’s clerk, but Judge Hinkle already clarified the ruling on the 1st of January, clearing the way for Zabel to allow the gay marriages a day before the rest of the state. The Associated Press contributed to this report.The post Miami-Dade Court makes history; marries first gay couples in Florida appeared first on Voxxi.
Miami-Dade County made history by conducting Florida’s first gay marriage on Monday, the first county in the state to recognize same-sex couples in a district courtroomhalf a day before a ban is lifted in the rest of the state.
SEE ALSO: What the SCOTUS decision on gay marriage means for immigrants
Around 1:30 p.m. two of the original six gay couples who sued the state along with advocacy group Equality Florida, were the first to be married: Catherine Pareto and Karla Arguello, of Coconut Grove and Jeff and Todd Delmay of Hollywood. They were married by Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Sarah Zabel, the same judge who lifted the stay on her ruling that declared Floridas same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional.
Earlier in the day Judge Zabel offered guidance to Miami-Dade Conty Clerk of Courts Harvey Ruvin, after U.S. federal Judge Hinkle cleared the way for marriage in all of Floridas 67 counties.
On the first of the year, Judge Hinkle cleared the final hurdle by clarifying that his ruling applied to all clerks of court in Florida, that they’d be in violation of the constitution if they enforced Florida’s ban on gay marriage.
The instructions to the clerk cleared a major hurdle for advocates of gay marriage, because originally Greenberg Traurig, the law firm that acts as Counsel for the Florida Association of Clerks of Court, had said that Judge Hinkle’s ruling only applied to Washington County, because only Lora C. Bell, the Clerk of Court and Comptroller for Washington County, was a party to the lawsuit.
The motion comes as clerks across Florida prepare to begin issuing marriage licenses for gay couples on January 6th. The motion to lift the stay notes that such a move has led other state courts to allow marriages to commence immediately, stated Equality Florida in a press release issued this week.
Florida’s first gay marriage takes place in Miami
The two gay marriage ceremonies at the Miami-Dade District court in Downtown Miami were done with much fanfare; TV news cameras were present, with family and friends surrounding the two couples, cheering them on as they exchanged rings.
In the big picture, does it really matter whether or not I lift the stay or leave it until tomorrow? Zabel said from the bench. Im lifting the stay, referring to moving ahead before midnight January 6th, the time when Judge Robert Hinkle’s ruling, from Tallahassee, goes into effect for the rest of the state.
The cheers in the courthouse reflect how much the nation’s third-largest state has changed since the days of Anita Bryant, the former beauty pageant queen and orange juice spokeswoman who started her national campaign against gay rights in Miami in the 1970s.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Cathy Pareto, who wed Karla Arguello, her partner of 15 years. “Finally Florida recognizes us as a couple. It’s just, I don’t know, sweet justice.”
But signs of opposition were evident farther north, where more conservative Floridians live.
In Jacksonville, Duval County Court Clerk Ronnie Fussell shut down the courthouse chapel, saying no marriage ceremonies — either gay or straight — would be allowed there. At least two other counties in northeast Florida did the same.
“Mr. Fussell said some of his people felt a little uncomfortable doing it,” said his spokesman, Charlie Broward. “It could cause discriminations down there (in the marriage license department) with those who are uncomfortable. We wanted to eliminate any unfairness.”
SEE ALSO: Ted Cruz slams SCOTUS decision on gay marriage
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a staunch conservative, legally fought to prevent gay marriage in the state, along with the support of Governor Rick Scott, however, this final clarification was not further challenged by her.
As for Miami-Dade County, Judge Zabel had already scheduled a hearing on her calendar for Monday to clarify to clerk Ruvin whether he had to follow the decision regarding Washington County’s clerk, but Judge Hinkle already clarified the ruling on the 1st of January, clearing the way for Zabel to allow the gay marriages a day before the rest of the state.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The post Miami-Dade Court makes history; marries first gay couples in Florida appeared first on Voxxi.
