Editorial Of The Day

From the editorial board of the Tampa Bay Times:

Florida is a significant step closer to treating all loving couples equally. A Monroe County circuit judge's decision Thursday to overturn the state's constitutional ban on gay marriage is a milestone victory for equality and fairness. Now the appellate courts should move quickly to affirm the decision so it can apply statewide, and Attorney General Pam Bondi should not keep standing in the way. Thursday's ruling was an important landmark, and it is in step with other court rulings throughout the nation and with quickly changing public opinion. The next step is for the appellate courts to affirm the decision so that same-sex couples throughout Florida enjoy the same right to marry as others. It would be helpful if the state attorney general finally recognized that federal constitutional protections apply to all regardless of sexual orientation and helped make this process a smooth one.