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An Open Letter to the Florida Legislature: Regarding Florida’s Law Prohibiting Homosexual Adoptions
Dear Florida Legislators,
There appears to be a fair amount of misleading information regarding Florida’s long standing law prohibiting homosexual persons from adopting children and the legal consequences of striking that language from the statutes. Please consider the following seven legal facts, arguments, and perspectives on this very important aspect of Florida law.
Letter: Family Research Council on Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act
The enactment of Indiana’s religious freedom restoration bill is not about religious bigotry, anti-homosexual bias, hatred, intolerance, or marginalizing anyone….This is about protecting the religious liberty of people of faith and families of faith across this country, that’s what it’s been for more than 20 years, and that’s what it is now as the law in Indiana.
Regarding: CS/HB 7013: Adoption & Foster Care
Analysis
The Florida Adoption Act provides, in pertinent part, “No person eligible to adopt under this statute may adopt if that person is a homosexual.” Fla. Stat. § 63.042(3).
In 1993, Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal held the statute constitutional on both due process and equal protection grounds, under both the Florida Constitution and the United States Constitution. Florida Dep’t of Health & Rehabilitative Servs. v. Cox, 627 So. 2d 1210 (Fla. 2d DCA 1993). The Florida Supreme Court approved the decision on due process grounds, but remanded the case for the development of an evidentiary record as to equal protection. Cox v. Florida Dep’t of Health & Rehabilitative Servs., 656 So. 2d 902 (Fla. 1995). No further proceedings occurred, however, leaving the Florida Supreme Court opinion undisturbed.
LGBT Community Defends Arlene’s Flowers
The political leadership of the LGBT movement wants to convince the world that the debate over conscience rights and religious freedom is a debate between those who hate gay people and those who don’t. In reality, its a debate between those who hate freedom and those who don’t.
Breaking News: US Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Same-Sex Marriage Case in Conflict Between Two Federal Circuits
Today (Friday, January 16, 2015) the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) announced it would take up a historic same-sex marriage case on whether states have a right to define marriage.
Good News for Anxious Believers in 2015: Ten Positive Things We Can Be Thankful For
2014 was a year of some pretty bad news. Between Ebola, ISIS, race relations, cyber-attacks, airline crashes, Obama’s executive orders “gone wild” and the attacks on marriage, it’s easy to become discouraged. Further, our own society is in moral free-fall and the country we know and love is in dire economic, spiritual, political, and social straits. If you’re like me, you hear so much bad news that it’s easy to become negative and jaded, overlooking the positive and powerful things happening in the midst of all the depravity. So to help you restore hope in the New Year, and give a more realistic perspective, here are ten really great (even amazing) things happening in our world right now.
Special Report: Update on the Attack on Florida’s Marriage Laws
Summary of News Events and Analysis | There are several developments that have taken place just in the last several days before, during, and after the holidays regarding the attack on Florida’s marriage laws. I want to update you on this matter because there are almost daily developments that have occurred…
Breaking News: Florida Family Action Files Lawsuits Against Local Elected Officials
FFA suits request that Circuit Court order elected officials to obey the law after making public statements they will participate in issuing or officiating over same-sex marriage license ceremonies.
Far As the Curse is Found: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Gospel in Christmas Carols
When we sing powerful Christmas songs that declare “God and sinners reconciled,” the “Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing,” and the “dawn of redeeming grace,” the focus of our hearts should not just be emotional sentiment and fond memories from our childhood. The focus should be on the majesty and power of these words which point us to the Baby who was born to die. These Christmas carols scream the heart of the gospel—“I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.” This Christmas, lead your family in rediscovering the beauty of the gospel by mediating on the powerful words of the truly great Christmas carols that speak of extending God’s grace and blessing far as the curse is found.
Special Report: Update on Legal Status of Marriage
Frequently Asked Questions on Florida’s Marriage Amendment By Attorney John Stemberger
BREAKING NEWS: Florida’s Marriage Amendment Overturned
The Florida Marriage Amendment which defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and which was passed by millions of Floridians has been overturned by a handful of judges. ORLANDO, FL--The Eleventh Circuit US Court of Appeals panel in Atlanta, GA...
Florida, Along With America, Has Spoken!
Floridians, along with other Americans have spoken through the results of the 2014 mid-term election. By voting overwhelmingly for conservative candidates who value life, traditional marriage and religious liberty more than their liberal counterparts, they basically sent the message that, “We reject the extreme policy agenda of Barack Obama and the direction he is leading this country.”
Why I am for medical marijuana but against Amendment 2, Orlando Lawyer John Morgan’s deceptive campaign to legalize pot smoking across Florida
This past year has been a real learning curve on the whole topic of medical marijuana. Thanks to a good friend of mine, who is a respected physician, I learned there really are some valid and legitimate medical uses for marijuana.
Statement on Supreme Court Decision to Refuse to Take Up Marriage Cases and its Impact in Florida
Florida Family Policy Council President, John Stemberger, released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s refusal to accept appeals in marriage cases involving only the five states of Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin:
Former State Senator Ronda Storms of Tampa to be Honored with William Wilberforce Award at the Ninth Annual Policy Awards Dinner
Ronda Storms, a two decade veteran of Florida politics from the Tampa area will be one of many special guests in attendance at the Ninth Annual Policy Awards Dinner of the Florida Family Policy Council (FFPC) to be held on Saturday, October 11, 2014 in Orlando at the Rosen Centre Hotel. Storms is a wife, mother, attorney, educator and faithful public servant.
Special Notes
RECAP: Week #6- This week in Tallahassee…
Week 6 of the Florida Legislature has come to an end, and we are officially two-thirds of the way through session. As we come to this point of the 2024 Legislative Session, the pace of Tallahassee has definitely slowed in the committee process, while picking up steam in the main chambers of both the House and Senate. Two major victories crossed the finish line on the House side this week.
RECAP: Week #5 – This week in Tallahassee…
Week 5 of the Florida Legislature is over. As we reached the halfway mark of the 2023 Legislative Session, Tallahassee was full of action from both the halls of the legislature to the chambers of the Supreme Court.
Video Update: On the ground in Tallahassee today…
Aaron DiPietro, Florida Family Policy Council Legislative Affairs Director, was at the Supreme Court today for the oral arguments on whether the radical abortion-on-demand ballot initiative will be allowed to be on the 2024 General Election ballot here in Florida. In this video, Aaron along with Noah Fay, FFPC Media Producer, recap what took place during the oral arguments this morning.