Key West Gets Rainbow Crosswalks

Via the Miami Herald:

Key West on Thursday installed permanent rainbow crosswalks in the heart of the city’s LGBT entertainment district, at the intersection of Duval and Petronia streets. “Spanning all four corners of the intersection, the crosswalks feature bands of all six colors of the rainbow flag, an internationally recognized symbol of gay and lesbian unity,” according to a tourism news release. “Key West is very happy to be putting in the first thermoplastic permanent rainbow crosswalks in the state of Florida,” said Mayor Craig Cates. “It means so much to Key West to show our diversity, and also it goes perfectly with our ‘One Human Family’ motto.”

Rainbow crosswalks have been installed in other popular LGBT destinations such as the Castro and West Hollywood. (Photo via Aaron Huntsman)

FLORIDA: White House Sends Wedding Congratulations To Key West Bartenders

Key West bartenders Aaron Huntsman and Lee Jones were the first winning plaintiffs in several marriage equality lawsuits that ultimately resulted in their being the first gay couple to marry in Monroe County. That ceremony was carried live by Florida television stations and was live-streamed here on JMG.

LIVE VIDEO: Winning Monroe County (Key West) Plaintiffs Aaron & Lee Get Married

Key West bartenders Aaron Huntsman and William "Lee" Jones, the winning plaintiffs in Monroe County's marriage suit, will be getting married at midnight when the stay issued by federal Judge Robert Hinkle expires statewide. Earlier today Circuit Judge Luis Garcia lifted the stay on his Monroe County ruling, also effective at midnight. Watch the festivities live below. Other Key West couples may be getting married on camera shortly after Aaron and Lee.

UPDATE: And Aaron & Lee are legally married after twelve years of love in Key West. Congratulations, guys! The live stream has concluded and I'll post a clip of the ceremony here when it becomes available.

UPDATE II: Here's a clip of the wedding.

Key West Bartenders Get Ready

Miami may have stolen a tiny bit of their thunder (not that anybody, least of all these guys would complain) but we'll all be watching the live stream from Key West at midnight tonight when Monroe County's winning plaintiffs make it legal after eleven years of serving drinks in sin. Via press release:

Two Key West men, whose lawsuit helped pave the way for same-sex marriage equality in Florida, had their tuxedos fitted Monday afternoon in preparation for their wedding very early Tuesday. Aaron Huntsman and William Lee Jones, who completed their marriage license application paperwork at Key West's Monroe County Courthouse Friday, plan to exchange vows just after receiving their license at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday in the Keys' first same-sex wedding. "I'm a big ball of nerves right now -- my stomach is in knots -- but I'm so happy that I finally get to marry him," said Jones as he stood beside Huntsman.

In July 2014, in response to the couple's lawsuit protesting Florida's 2008 ban on same-sex marriage, Florida Keys Judge Luis Garcia ruled that the ban was discriminatory and unconstitutional. But the state appealed, putting wedding plans on hold for Huntsman and Jones until New Year's Day, when U.S. Judge Robert Hinkle ruled that Florida's county court clerks can issue licenses to same-sex couples beginning at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

At Timmy Tuxedo's, Huntsman and Jones were fitted with white shirts, electric blue vests and traditional black bowties and tuxedos. For Jones, the wedding will mean removing an unwanted article of apparel -- a large silver-toned bracelet that completely encircles his left wrist. "A friend of ours gave it to me the day after we filed our lawsuit, and it's been shackled on here ever since," Jones said. "I call it my shackle of inequality. Tonight at midnight, I get to take it off." According to a spokesperson for the county clerk's office in Key West, the office will open at 11:30 p.m. Monday night and prepare to issue up to 100 marriage licenses to same-sex couples. While other weddings may take place in the wee hours Tuesday morning, Huntsman and Jones' ceremony is to be the first in the county and in the Florida Keys.

I'll post the live stream at 11:30PM. Bring your tissues.

Key West Bartenders Do The Paperwork

Aaron and Lee were the plaintiffs in the Monroe County case, the first of five consecutive wins in Florida. Their wedding will be live-streamed on Monday night and I'll have that video here.

Key West Winners

William Jones (left) and Aaron Huntsman are the Key West bartenders whose marriage equality lawsuit against Monroe County was the first of five wins in Florida, earning them grand marshal titles in this year's Fantasy Fest Parade, the first "political" selection in the event's history. Jones and Huntsman dropped in at the Island House this afternoon for an interview with me and South Florida Gay News writer Tony Adams. Look for Tony's interview online and in print on Wednesday. My piece will appear in the 2015 issue of Pride Magazine, by which time we'll hopefully have a final resolution on Florida marriage - if not the entire national shebang.

Morning View - Island House

All is quiet at this early hour at the Island House. As usual there are some JMG readers here this week: two self-proclaimed "flying monkeys" from Minneapolis, Mike from Atlanta, Russ from Manhattan, and a boisterous bear couple from Surrey, England. Say hello, boys!

Afternoon View - Sushi's Shoe

Key West's Bourbon Pub is all set for their famed Drag Queen Drop in which local star Sushi is lowered in a giant pump at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve.

Inside The Key West Christmas Cab

So this happened the other night on our way back to Island House. Father Tony writes:

Joe and I returning from El Siboney Cuban Restaurant - per our tradition - got into the Best. Cab. Ever. The driver said, "Are you guys ready for Christmas?" We said no, and he fired up Bing Crosby doing the Hawaiian Christmas Song and then he said, "Mind if I turn on my Christmas lights?" Suddenly the floor of the cab was in synch with the music.

And then the cabbie performed Christmas In Hollis.

New From The Island House

Staffers here at the Island House let me know that they've created a bear-centric parody of a recent underwear commercial partially filmed on their property.

The Island House Key West extends a warm welcome to all types of gay men, regardless of body type! Unlike our wonderful friends at Andrew Christian, we don't all have chiseled abs and perfect pectoral muscles. So here's our fun-filled parody video showcasing some of the fun and outrageousness that is welcome by anybody on an average day at Island House!

Morning View: Delivery Dogs

Father Tony and I arrived in Key West yesterday for our annual sojourn at the Island House. This morning I spotted these guys perched aboard the delivery scooter for the Old Town Bakery, my favorite breakfast spot on the island. The Mad Maxian delivery dude came out with an order, the pooches hunkered down, and off they zipped.

FLORIDA: Same-Sex Marriage Plaintiffs Lead Key West Fantasy Fest Parade

Via press release:

Two fighters for the Florida Keys' same-sex marriage equality led Saturday night's lavish Fantasy Fest Parade in Key West, capping 10 days of masking and costuming events in the festival that ended Sunday. Parade grand marshals Aaron Huntsman and William Lee Jones won a landmark court ruling overturning Florida's statewide same-sex marriage ban for Florida Keys residents. A subsequent appeal by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi means they still can't marry, but their parade float proclaimed their desire to tie the knot. "Our float was designed for us. It's a wedding cake with the rainbow over top of it symbolizing the marriage equality that we're aiming for," said Jones, who rode atop the float with Huntsman while 33 other couples in wedding attire marched beside it. "I hope that our appearance as grand marshals of Fantasy Fest will show the rest of the state, and our state attorney general and our governor, that we're all one human family and that we need equality now," said Huntsman. "And no more wasting taxpayers' money. Let's get it done."

On Friday, Bondi filed a last minute motion against lifting the stay issued by a federal court in Tallahassee.

FLORIDA: Plaintiffs In Key West And Miami-Dade Suits File To Merge Cases

Last month the plaintiffs in the same-sex marriage suits brought in Florida's Monroe and Miami-Dade counties won their cases in stayed rulings that only apply in the counties in which they were brought. So they are now attempting to join forces and get in front of the state Supreme Court together.

"If it is approved, then this will be awesome news," said Vanessa Alenier, who along with her partner Melanie is challenging the ban. "This merger will just makes us stronger." Earlier this month, the couples from both lawsuits boldly went to court to stand up for their right to marry, even though they were accosted by some religious protestors after the hearing. Their cases resulted in historic decisions from Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Judge Sarah Zabel and Monroe County Circuit Judge Luis Garcia, both of whom ruled in their favor. The fight for marriage equality now continues to the next judicial arena, the Third District Court of Appeal based in Miami, though the couples are trying to take their case straight to the Florida Supreme Court. If the higher courts (potentially including the U.S. Supreme Court) judge in accordance with Zabel's and Garcia's decision, then same-sex marriage will be legalized throughout Florida.

A third case has already been heard in a Tallahassee federal court and the ruling in that case, should it come before the proposed Monroe/Miami-Dade case, would also be applicable statewide.

FLORIDA: Key West Marriage Plaintiffs Ask To Move Case To State Supreme Court

The two Key West bartenders who two weeks ago won their marriage lawsuit in a Monroe County court are petitioning to have their case heard by the Florida Supreme Court. Via the Miami Herald:

On July 17, Monroe Chief Circuit Judge Luis Garcia declared Florida's 2008 gay-marriage ban unconstitutional, ruling against Bondi, whose office defended the ban. Huntsman and Jones have not been allowed to marry: Florida law mandates that an automatic stay pending appeal is triggered when a public official loses a court case. “We’re filing in the court of appeal, a motion, in layman’s terms, to pass through the jurisdiction of the third District Court of Appeal and to send the case directly to the Florida Supreme Court,” Restivo told the Miami Herald. “It’s going to certainly bring this case quicker to finality. It’s going to apply this case, one way or another, to the entire state of Florida, once the Supreme Court rules on it.” The Monroe County case mirrors one in Miami-Dade, in which Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel on Friday ordered that six same-sex couples also be allowed to marry. Preventing same-sex couples from marrying, Zabel said, “serves only to hurt, to discriminate, to deprive same-sex couples and their families of equal dignity, to label and treat them as second-class citizens, and to deem them unworthy of participation in one of the fundamental institutions of our society.”

Equality Case Files has the request.

FLORIDA: Motion To Lift Stay On Monroe County Same-Sex Marriages Is Denied

In a ruling that only applies in Florida's Monroe County, last week a county circuit judge overturned the state's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Yesterday that same judge refused to lift his stay on the ruling and allow marriages in the Keys to commence today.

In the emergency motion, the couple’s attorney argued gay couples should be allowed to marry starting Tuesday because of the initial ruling and because the state is unlikely to ultimately win an appeal. Gay marriage proponents have won more than 20 legal decisions against state marriage limits around the country since the U.S. Supreme Court last year struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act. “Every day that goes by, plaintiffs and other same-sex couples are being deprived of important constitutional rights and suffering additional serious, ongoing, and irreparable dignitary, legal and economic harms,” the motion says. Huntsman and Jones are still optimistic, “In the long run we’re going to be victorious,” said Jones, “whether the state attorney general likes it or not.”

The Monroe County case was won by two Key West bartenders who have been a couple for 11 years.

RELATED: In the same CBS Miami report linked above, we get this quote from Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski:

"While Judge Garcia spoke of  'rights,' the Catholic Church speaks of 'right.” As I have said on other occasions, marriage, a union between one man and one woman and any children that arise from that union, is an institution that precedes Church and state; therefore neither Church nor state has any authority to change the nature of marriage. Since time immemorial, marriage has been primarily about the raising of children, who seem to be hardwired to be best raised by a father and a mother who are married to each other. Regardless of Catholic moral teaching on the subject, society has a legitimate interest in preserving marriage as a way of investing in the future of society by providing for the human flourishing of upcoming generations.”

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops has filed an opposing brief in a separate case that could overturn the marriage ban statewide. A ruling in that case is thought to be imminent.

BREAKING: Florida County Judge Rules Marriage Ban Unconstitutional

Via the Associated Press:

A judge in the Florida Keys has overturned the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage after a legal challenge by six gay couples said it effectively made them second-class citizens. The ruling was issued Thursday by Circuit Judge Luis M. Garcia and applies only to Monroe County, which covers the Keys. The lawsuit contended that the same-sex marriage ban approved by voters in 2008 violated the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. The judge says licenses could be issued starting Tuesday.

As I noted yesterday, this ruling only applies to Monroe County, which stretches from far below Miami to Key West.

UPDATE: Equality Florida is planning celebrations across the state for tonight. Click and find the location nearest you.

UPDATE II: More on the ruling.

The ruling by Circuit Judge Luis M. Garcia applies only to Monroe County, which primarily consists of the Keys, and will certainly be appealed. The lawsuit contended that the same-sex marriage ban approved overwhelmingly by voters in 2008 violated the federal 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law. The judge said licenses could not be issued until Tuesday at the earliest. Attorney General Pam Bondi and ban supporters argued that the referendum vote should be respected and that Florida has sole authority to define marriage in the state. The Florida amendment defined marriage solely as a union between one man and one woman.

UPDATE III: Read the full ruling.

At Florida's Marriage Hearing

The Miami Herald has posted the below report on yesterday's hearing of the marriage lawsuit filed by two Key West bartenders against the Monroe County Clerk. The plaintiffs and hate group leader Mat Staver appear in the clip.

Mat Staver Calls For The Resignation Of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi

“Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is giving only window dressing to the Florida Marriage Amendment. Bondi sent one of her staff attorneys to argue the case against the constitutional amendment, and her office filed a short, 14-page brief only a week before the court date. If Attorney General Pam Bondi does not want to present a vigorous defense, she owes it to the voters of Florida to step down and allow someone else to represent the interests of the State. I call on Governor Rick Scott to get off the sidelines and appoint an independent counsel who can adequately represent the people of Florida." - Liberty Counsel chairman Mat Staver, who yesterday testified in the Monroe County marriage lawsuit brought by two Key West bartenders. Staver also appeared at last week's case in Miami-Dade County.

RELATED: The Liberty Counsel's amicus brief in the Key West case cites the debunked Regnerus study, a column by Maggie Gallagher, a study on the rate of anal cancer in gay men, and a statement by crackpot David Pickup, who was a party to Liberty Counsel's failed attempt to repeal California's ban on "ex-gay" torture.

FLORIDA: No Marriage Ruling Today

FLORIDA: Marriage Equality Suit To Be Heard Today In Monroe County

The Miami-Dade County case was heard last week and today is the Monroe County case.

Two gay Key West bartenders are prepared to get married Monday in a Plantation Key courthouse if Monroe County Circuit Judge Luis Garcia strikes Florida’s same-sex marriage ban. “That’s all it takes is a walk across the hall. It’s just about 10 feet from the door of the court to the door of the clerk’s office,” said Bernadette Restivo, an attorney for Aaron Huntsman and William Lee Jones, who in April sued Monroe County Clerk Amy Heavilin for a marriage license. Huntsman and Jones, both bartenders at 801 Bourbon Bar on Duval Street, are longtime Keys residents who met years ago at a gay pride celebration. Huntsman, at the time, was the reigning Mr. Pride. They wanted to wed on June 10, their 11th anniversary as a couple. The case mirrors a suit filed in January by six same-sex couples who want to marry in Miami-Dade County. The men and women, along with Equality Florida Institute, sued Miami-Dade Clerk Harvey Ruvin after his office denied them licenses.

The hearing begins at 9:30AM. As in the Miami-Dade case, today's plaintiffs are asking for a summary judgment.