FLORIDA: Gov. Rick Scott Signs Bill Removing Unenforced Gay Adoption Ban

Florida's 1977 ban on gay adoption was struck down by a Miami-Dade County court in 2008. The state appealed that ruling, but it was upheld in a 2010 state district appeals court decision. Following that appeals court ruling then-Gov. Charlie Crist announced that the ban would no longer be enforced, but it took until earlier this year for the state legislature to formally strike the law. In March hate group leader John Stemberger sent a letter to all Florida legislators, telling them that the 2010 ruling only applies to the counties under the jurisdiction of the appeals court and that the Department of Children & Families is infested with pro-gay workers anyway. Stemberger had a lovely meltdown on Twitter last night following the governor's signing.

John Stemberger Has The Boy Scouts Sadz

"Trail Life USA is saddened by the announcement regarding the anticipated membership change in Boy Scouts of America, as many families and boys will be negatively affected by this departure from their own long-standing principles. It is tragic that the BSA is willing to risk the safety and security of its boys because of peer pressure from activists groups. Trail Life USA remains committed to timeless Christian values and to the hundreds of Charter Organizations and 23,000 members in 48 states." - Trail Life USA founder John Stemberger, via press release. Stemberger is also the head of the Florida Family Policy Council, which has been represented by the Liberty Counsel in its multiple failed attempts to thwart same-sex marriage.

FLORIDA: John Stemberger Won't Give Up On Anti-Gay Adoption Bill

FLORIDA: House Advances Bill To Allow Adoption Agencies To Refuse Gay Couples

Via SaintPetersBlog:

One week after striking down a ban on gay adoption a House panel on Thursday approved a proposed committee bill that would allow private child placing agencies to refuse to perform adoptions without risking their state contracts if the placement violates their religious or moral convictions. The proposed bill, PCB HHSC 15-03, was supported by the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Florida Eagle Forum, a self-described “pro-family” group, and opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Organization for Women and organizations representing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocates, among others. Committee Chairman Jason Brodeur said the bill is necessary in light of the state’s move to eliminate the ban on gay adoption. Without the bill, he said, the private agencies “might likely have to shut down because they can’t reconcile their beliefs with the state.”

Florida's 1977 ban on gay adoption was struck down by a Miami-Dade County court in 2008. The state appealed that ruling, but it was upheld in a 2010 state district appeals court decision. Following that appeals court ruling then-Gov. Charlie Crist announced that the ban would no longer be enforced, making last week's House strike down of the 1977 statute merely symbolic. That symbolic gesture must still be approved by the Florida Senate and Gov. Rick Scott.

Enter hate group leader John Stemberger, who yesterday sent a letter to all Florida legislators, telling them that the 2010 ruling only applies to the counties under the jurisdiction of the appeals court and that the Department of Children & Families is infested with pro-gay workers anyway.

The DCA decision is merely “persuasive” authority but it is not binding authority statewide. The opinion of Adoption of XXG, is binding or controlling authority, only within Miami-Dade and Monroe counties where the jurisdiction of the Third District Court of Appeals lies. Further, the opinion was decided on highly questionable legal grounds because the court “discovered” Florida’s Constitution was somehow suddenly in conflict with Florida’s Statutes. DCF has for many years ignored the law and placed children with homosexuals for the simple reason that the agency is filled at a local level with pro-gay rights employees. DCF has ignored and side-stepped the prohibition in Florida’s law for many years and placed children with homosexual parents. DCF would place homosexuals as foster parents (which Florida law allows as a non-permanent placement) and then just arrange for adoptions for those persons and look the other way as to the gay man’s “roommate” or “friend.” Because of the false cover of Adoption of XXG opinion, the agency continues the same practice, but now openly and aggressively.

To sum up, the haters are vowing to stop the final approval of a bill striking down a moot law and they want to legalize anti-gay discrimination by adoption agencies.

RELATED: Stemberger, you may recall, has declared that the battle against same-sex marriage is "worth dying for." He's also the head of Trail Life USA, the anti-Boy Scouts group.

Florida Hater Has The Gay Adoption Sadz

Florida hate group leader John Stemberger is ever so pissed that the state House voted to erase an outdated law against gay adoption, which has been legal for several years.

GOP Leaders Appear In Janet Porter Documentary: Gays Want The Total Criminalization Of Christianity

Kyle Mantyla writes at Right Wing Watch:

Today, Faith 2 Action's Janet Porter sent out an email to activists excitedly announcing that she is finishing up editing a new anti-gay documentary that she intends to release at the National Religious Broadcaster's Convention in Nashville at the end of this month. Among the participants are Rep. Steve King, Rep. Trent Franks, Rep. Louie Gohmert, Rep. Tim Huelskamp, Sen. Rand Paul, Mike Huckabee, David Barton, James Dobson, Mat Staver, Phyllis Schlafly, Scott Lively, Alveda King, Brian Camenker, Frank Pavone, Robert Knight, John Stemberger, and, of course, Porter herself, who can been seen walking around in the woods with a lantern, warning that gay activists are seeking to turn Christians into criminals.

You'll see another familiar face in the trailer. Hit this RWW post for a roundup of many insane claims made by Janet Porter.

Florida Hater Still Has The Sadz

Stemberger once declared that same-sex marriage was a fight "worth dying" over, but instead he's just going to continue his impotent whinging. From the poll he cites:

Saint PetersBlog commissioned St. Pete Polls to look at same-sex marriage in a poll which was released on Tuesday. The poll finds 39 percent of Florida voters consider the legalization of same-sex marriage to be bad while 34 percent think it is good and 27 percent are either undecided or neutral on its impact.The poll finds a major partisan divide on the issue. While 46 percent of Democrats think the legalization of same-sex marriage is good, 29 percent think it is bad. A majority of Republicans -- 55 percent -- think the legislation of same-sex marriage is bad while 18 percent think it is good. Independents are divided with 43 percent thinking same-sex marriage is good while 27 percent oppose it.

In other words, 61% of Floridians either support or don't care about same-sex marriage.

Tweet Of The Day II: John Stemberger

You'll recall that Stemberger had stompy-feet meldowns over gay marriage coming to his home state after vowing that it was an issue "worth dying for." (Tipped by JMG reader Erik)

More Florida Sadz From John Stemberger

"Our lawyers with Liberty Counsel have asked the judge's office assigned to the Orange County lawsuit for an emergency hearing, so it is possible, but unlikely that any judge at this point would have the courage to do the right thing and rule in our favor to uphold the law. The peer pressure within the bar and judicial circles is quite heavy and few judges have the backbone to do what is legally and morally right on these issues. As C.S. Lewis said, ‘We make men without chests, and expect from them virtue and enterprise.’" - Florida hate group leader John Stemberger, in an email to supporters which apparently fails to mention that his lawsuit against Osceola County has already been smacked down.

Sunshine State News notes that Stemberger is also pessimistic about SCOTUS.

"While it is not clear where Kennedy will come down on this issue, in Windsor, the last major SCOTUS marriage case, he used very hostile and frankly offensive language to describe people who have a traditional or natural view of marriage. But he also took a state's rights position in that case, so it is possible that he could give the SCOTUS a majority vote for upholding Florida's marriage law. A state's rights decision would immediately reinvigorate the authority of Florida's Marriage Amendment. On the other hand, it is also possible Kennedy could find a new right to marry under the Equal Protection Clause, which would result in a Roe vs Wade-like marriage decision, which would block any further changes in the law for decades to come. If SCOTUS did come out with a state's rights ruling then this would create a further confused patchwork of case law and precedent with three categories, legitimate marriages, same sex marriages which are now in question because of the new decision under the newly authoritative marriage amendment and then same sex couples who want to be married and now cannot. But this is precisely the type of confusion the left wants."

FLORIDA: Osceola County Judge Tells Liberty Counsel That They Can Suck It

Osceola County Circuit Judge Leticia Marques today told the Liberty Counsel to suck it, dismissing the Florida Family Policy Council's lawsuit against County Clerk Armando Ramirez, the state's only county clerk who had vowed to officiate same-sex weddings despite contrary advice from the legal group that represents all Florida clerks. Per local news outlets, Marques ruled that the suit was moot in light of yesterday's ruling by federal Judge Robert Hinkle. I'll update this post when the Liberty Counsel's suit against Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer meets the same inevitable fate.

John Stemberger Has The Florida Sadz

"Judge Hinkle's ruling is being widely misinterpreted. It clearly says that only the clerk Washington County is required to issue a marriage license and only to the two persons in that case. Judge Hinkle has no jurisdiction outside of the Northern District of Florida to bind any clerk outside of North Florida. Clerks outside of North Florida are required to obey the current law and are still subject to all the penalties of a first-degree misdemeanor for violating it." - Florida Family Policy Council head John Stemberger, who this week sued the mayor of Orlando and the clerk of Osceola County to stop them from officiating at same-sex weddings.

FLORIDA: Liberty Counsel Sues To Prevent Officials From Marrying Gay Couples

Local hater John Stemberger is at it again with help from the Orlando-based Liberty Counsel. Via CBS Miami:

With Florida’s gay marriage ban scheduled to be lifted on January 6th, a conservative group is trying to put the brakes on the plan. The Florida Family Action Inc. filed two lawsuits Tuesday, asking a judge to prevent the officials from either officiating or issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples starting next week. The officials named in the lawsuits are Osceola County Clerk of Court Armando Ramirez, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Circuit Judge Robert LeBlanc. The conservative group argues the lifting of the ban on same-sex marriage applies to only Washington County in the Panhandle, where the legal challenge to the state’s same-sex marriage ban originated. Ramirez has promised to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Via press release from Florida Family Action:

Florida Family Action (FFA) announced today the filing of two lawsuits against three elected officials in Central Florida who have made clear public statements of their intentions to defy Florida law and either issue same-sex marriage licenses or officiate over same-sex marriage ceremonies on or after January 6, 2015. Florida Family Action is being represented by Liberty Counsel a leading constitutional advocacy group in the lawsuits which are filed in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida covering Orange and Osceola counties. One lawsuit was filed against Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Ninth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Bob LeBlanc, and a separate second lawsuit against Osceola County Clerk of Court Armando Ramirez.

John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Action organization issued the following statement regarding the lawsuits: “All three of these officials have shown great contempt and disrespect for the rule of law and are behaving irresponsibly and unprofessionally. The federal court decision is clear that it only applies narrowly to the two plaintiffs and only in Washington County. Elected officials must be held accountable to the law and to the constitution they have sworn to uphold. Part of the reason for the recent landslide mid-term election was the utter disregard and insolence shown by President Obama for the rule of law which is now infecting so many other politicians across America. Respect for law must be restored or else legitimacy in government as an institution will diminish at an even greater rate. Ultimately, if these local officials continue in this same reckless pattern of behavior, they could easily face the same fate as so many other politicians did who are now retired as a result of the last election.”

The suit against Osceola County can be seen here. The suit against Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer can be seen here.  The clerk for Osceola County is the only one outside of Washington County that has vowed to marry same-sex couples immediately upon the end of the stay. Last week Dyer announced a mass wedding to be held at Orlando City Hall on that day.

RELATED: In July, Stemberger declared that the fight against same-sex marriage "is worth dying for."

UPDATE: Liberty Counsel has issued a press release:

“In sum, the Court may not expand the Preliminary Injunction as an afterthought, to afford relief that no one requested, benefiting persons who are not plaintiffs, at the expense of clerks who are not defendants,” said Horatio Mihet, Vice President of Legal Affairs and Chief Litigation Counsel for Liberty Counsel, in the filing. The new lawsuits against the Osceola County Clerk of Court, Armando Ramirez, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and Circuit Judge Robert LeBlanc were filed in response to the officials’ dereliction of their official public duties. Osceola Clerk Ramirez is actively soliciting same-sex couples to apply for marriage licenses to be issued “one minute after midnight” in Kissimmee on January 6, in blatant violation of his sworn oath to uphold Florida’s marriage laws. In Orlando, Mayor Dyer and Judge LeBlanc have both agreed to officiate and promote public mass wedding ceremonies on January 6, despite having no legal authority to solemnize the marriages of same-sex couples.

Local Haters Have The Florida Sadz

"Today, we grieve. We grieve for the children who now have no chance of growing up with both a mom and a dad. We mourn the loss of a culture and its ethical foundation. We mourn for a culture that continues to turn its back on timeless principles. The state has an interest in defining, protecting and promoting natural marriage and as long as we have breath, even if it takes 20, 30 or 50 years, we will never give up on this issue. e may grieve today, but we will not despair. We will not throw in the towel. We will not give up. Natural marriage will never be on the wrong side of history because it's rooted in the human experience." - John Stemberger, head of the Florida Family Policy Council, who has said that same-sex marriage is an issue "worth dying for."

FLORIDA: Hater Cheers Crist Loss

Stemberger is the head of the Florida Family Policy Council and the chairman of the anti-gay answer to the Boy Scouts. He recently declared that the fight against same-sex marriage is "worth dying for."

John Stemberger Has The Florida Sadz

"People ask me, are you on the wrong side of history? To me, this issue will never be on the wrong side of history because it's rooted in the human experience. A little boy who longs to have a father in the inner city – that will never be on the wrong side of history. The little girl who has two dads and doesn't have a mom and she wants someone to guide her through the changes that a woman's body goes through – that's never going to be on the wrong side of history. And the beauty of how a man and woman come together and life is born, that's never going to be on the wrong side of history.” - John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Policy Council, reacting to yesterday's ruling.

Tweet Of The Day - John Stemberger

Busting out w my new GOM shirt in honor of the most courageous & godly rapper of our generation. @MyNameIsBizzle pic.twitter.com/8LF425VZi3— John Stemberger (@JohnStemberger) August 20, 2014

Florida hate group leader and fly champagne Lexus owner John Stemberger is referring to Bizzle, the rapper who was so outraged by the weddings at this year's Grammys that he issued a parody of Macklemore's Same Love in which he compared homosexuality to pedophilia and mental retardation with a bonus reference to Down Syndrome for extra Christian Love™ points. Courageous and godly! Praise! Glory! By the way, this week the National Black Justice Coalition denounced Stemberger for saying that America's inner cities have a "barbarian society." One wonders if Bizzle would mind that characterization. And the hypocrisy of posing on Lexus with a shirt that says "God Over Money" is really laughable. (Tipped by JMG reader Erik)

RELATED: Last month Stemberger declared that the fight against same-sex marriage "is worth dying for."

Tick Tock, Stemberger

Hate Group Leader Has The Florida Super Sadz: This Is An Issue Worth Dying For

Via the Miami Herald:

The Christian Family Coalition of Florida called the ruling a “corrupt decision,” and a “judicial lynching of nearly 8 million Florida voters” who voted to ban same-sex marriage in 2008. John Stemberger, who led that 2008 campaign, said he would keep fighting. “This is an issue worth dying for,” said Stemberger, president and general counsel of the Florida Family Policy Council in Orlando. “Every domestic partnership, every single civil union, every couple that cohabitates, these arrangements dilute and devalue marriage.” Stemberger said he wasn’t “daunted” by Garcia’s ruling, nor was he surprised. “The court was very hostile to our position,” he said. “This is a very sad day for Floridians. This is an entirely illegitimate process. The judge had no legal authority in this decision.”

Watch Stemberger's crybaby video below.

(Tipped by JMG reader Erik)