Miami-Dade County commissioners have voted to approve domestic partner benefits, which has some opponents saying the real goal of the vote was to advance the fight for homosexual "marriage."
County employees and those eligible across the board for the benefits approved by commissioners are unmarried, non-related couples who are 18 years of age or older and who are living together -- regardless of sexual orientation. Christian Family Coalition (CFC) leader Anthony Verdugo says the "couples" will be treated as spouses and placed on a registry, and allowed the right to jail and hospital visitation for their partner and their biological children and parents. "It also forces the county to recognize civil unions from Vermont or anywhere else outside of the state of Florida," Verdugo continues. But commissioners rejected an earlier alternate plan that would have covered both live-in relatives and domestic partners, which Verdugo concludes was a gross injustice to extended family members. "That, in and of itself, is a travesty ... add to that, that they're using this domestic partner registry to undermine marriage," he points out. The Miami Herald reports registration is slated to begin in August, with more than 900 couples expected to file. In the meantime, says Verdugo, the CFC is urging constituents to contact Mayor Carlos Alvarez immediately and urge him to submit a veto -- a procedure the mayor has to make by May 30. The family advocate points out that Alvarez signed a "Marriage Protection Pledge" when he was campaigning four years ago.
If you believe OneNewsNow.com is an important source for Christian news, please consider a small tax-deductible gift for this service.
