Tea Room Naugle Is Back

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim "Tea Room" Naugle, who made national headlines last year when he insisted that gay men were running wild in the public restrooms of the city's beach, is now leading a group of Democrats supporting the push to put anti-gay marriage wording into the Florida state constitution.

A ballot measure to ban gay marriage has already won the support of many religious leaders and Republican politicians. On Tuesday, it received another endorsement -- this time from a group of Democrats.

In a press conference headlined by Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle, the community leaders -- including pastors and civic activists -- said marriage should be defined as the union between a man and a woman. Amendment 2, if passed by voters on Election Day, would do just that by changing the Florida Constitution to say, ``No other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.''

The measure has already garnered support from several Republican politicians, including Gov. Charlie [CLOSET CASE] Crist, U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez and Attorney General Bill McCollum. Outside the Stephen P. Clark Government Center in downtown Miami, where the group of Democrats rallied, some held signs that read, ''Yes 2 Marriage,'' while others clutched Bibles.

Naugle will be term-limited out of his job next year, but is expected to seek statewide office.