A Florida judge has lifted the stay on same-sex marriages in the Miami-Dade county.
On Monday, a circuit judge lifted the stay on same-sex marriages in Miami-Dade County, making it the first county to allow gay marriage in the state of Florida. Following Circuit Judge Sarah Zebel’s decision, same-sex marriages will begin in the county at 2 p.m. EDT.
In January 2014, the case in Miami-Dade County, Pareto v. Ruvin, was brought by six same-sex couples. Circuit Judge Zabel heard the case in early July and issued her ruling?later that month. Zabel found the ban on same-sex marriage violated the U.S. Constitution, but placed a stay on the ruling pending an appeal from the state itself.
For the state of Florida, this week will be a historic and exciting week!?The stay on same-sex?marriage for the entire state of Florida was originally set to expire tomorrow, Tuesday January 6. This announcement is a great surprise and another?victory for human rights and equality! Florida will become the 36th state to legalize marriage equality. Since June 2014 when DOMA was struck down, states have been falling in line like dominoes in support of marriage equality. Although some states kick and scream, marriage equality will eventually be recognized as constitutional by all states and it will be a norm for states nationwide.
As in life, with good news, comes bad news. At least 13 Florida counties are refusing to marry same-sex couples tomorrow. Same-sex couples can obtain marriage licenses, but will not be able to marry at the court house. No couples will be married by county officiants in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty, Franklin, Wakulla, Baker, Clay, Duval, and Pasco. These 13 counties are refusing to marry any couple, just to get out of having to marry same-sex couples. Apparently city clerks can now pick and choose their job duties!
Even though we can certainly look to all of the haters who?tried to stop same-sex marriages at every turn and pay them attention, let us take a moment and thank Judge Sarah Zebel for siding on the right side of history. Thank you Judge Zebel for not continuing to discriminate against same-sex couples! Everyone deserves the freedom to marry!
Caleb Woods is a Communications and English major. He is a reader, a writer, and an activist for LGBT rights, women’s rights, and the rights of the American people. He has lived in Alabama for his entire life and has experienced first-hand discrimination and bigotry. He hopes to change hearts and minds across the world so that people may show more compassion and empathy for their fellow man and woman.
