© 2025 WGCU News
PBS and NPR for Southwest Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

ACLU, Couples Sue State Officials Over Gay Marriages Performed in Other States

FLgov.com

Advocates have filed another lawsuit this week in the ongoing fight for gay marriage in Florida.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida filed a lawsuit in federal court Wednesday night against state officials. The group is challenging the state’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of eight Florida couples who got married out of state, as well as a gay rights organization based in Miami.

Baylor Johnson, a spokesman for the ACLU of Florida, said a gay marriage ban enshrined in Florida’s Constitution not only bans gay marriages in the state, but it also prohibits the recognition of marriages performed elsewhere.

“We believe that that is a violation of their rights that are guaranteed to them by the Constitution,” he said. “We believe that the promise, the commitment that people make to each other, the vows that they share when they get married, shouldn’t become more weak in the eyes of the law based on where they are geographically. We believe that is unfair, and we hope that the judge agrees.”

Johnson says the plaintiffs in the case include war veterans, fire fighters and teachers. Most have been married for a while and are currently unable to share health insurance, survivor’s benefits and other legal protections.

This latest lawsuit names Governor Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and other state officials, as the defendants. 

Ashley Lopez is a reporter forWGCUNews. A native of Miami, she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a journalism degree.
Trusted by over 30,000 local subscribers

Local News, Right Sized for Your Morning

Quick briefs when you are busy, deeper explainers when it matters, delivered early morning and curated by WGCU editors.

  • Environment
  • Local politics
  • Health
  • And more

Free and local. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

More from WGCU
  • Gray Catbirds are in a bird family known as the “Mimidae” – because they mimic other birds, other animals, and even mechanical sounds. Other members of their family in Florida include the Brown Thrasher and the Northern Mockingbird – two excellent mimics that we often see and hear year-round as they feed, sing, and nest in relatively open vegetation. They often mimic the vocalizations of other bird species and it has been suggested that their mimicry may send the message that the area is crowded – and cause other birds to search for food elsewhere.
  • Residents and visitors once again may enjoy convenient, stress-free travel to some of Lee County’s most popular destinations as LeeTran resumes free seasonal trolley and tram services. Connectivity and timing improvements made to other LeeTran routes.
  •  As the nation prepares to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection invites Floridians to reflect on the people and places that shaped the nation’s story and the service members who have safeguarded it. On Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11, Florida State Parks will offer free admission for all visitors to recognize and thank those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.