Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) this week sent a letter urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to drop the State of Florida’s appeal in Scott v. Brenner and treat all Floridians equally under the law.

“We live in a country where we cherish the right to pursue happiness. Any person, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, should be allowed to live in a committed relationship with the one they love. It is time for Florida to join the more than thirty states that are now on the right side of history and recognize same-sex marriage,” said Rep. Frankel.

Florida Judge Robert Hinkle recently ruled that Florida’s same-sex marriage ban is a violation of the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the United States Constitution. Attorney General Bondi appealed the ruling, denying LGBT Floridians the right to marry.

As the United States Supreme Court has declined to hear challenges to several federal court decisions overturning same-sex marriage bans, more than half the U.S. population will soon live in a marriage equality state.

Attorney General Bondi’s refusal to drop the appeal is preventing same sex couples from receiving federal benefits, including Social Security payments.

Full text of the letter follows:

October 22, 2014

The Honorable Pam Bondi

Attorney General of the State of Florida

The Capitol PL-01

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050

Dear Attorney General Bondi:

Now that the United States Supreme Court has declined to hear challenges to several federal court decisions overturning same-sex marriage bans, I strongly urge you to immediately drop the State of Florida’s appeal in Scott v. Brenner. As a result of the Supreme Court’s action, eleven more states now recognize same sex marriage, and more than half the U.S. population lives in a marriage equality state. It is time for Florida to join these states in treating all of its citizens equally under the law.

Numerous Florida courts have held that Florida’s same-sex marriage ban is a violation of the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the United States Constitution.   This includes courts in Monroe, Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Unfortunately, in the midst of this wave of pro-equality rulings in Florida and across the country, you have appealed Judge Robert Hinkle’s ruling in Scott v. Brenner to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in a desperate attempt to delay the inevitable.  Today, more than a year after the Supreme Court handed down its historic ruling on marriage equality in United States v. Windsor, over half a million LGBT Floridians lack the right to marry. This is a constitutional embarrassment.

We live in a country where we cherish the right to pursue happiness. Any person, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, should be allowed to live in a committed relationship with the one they love. It is time for Florida to join the more than thirty states that are now on the right side of history and recognize same-sex marriage. I strongly urge you to drop the State’s appeal in Brenner today.

Sincerely,

Lois Frankel

Member of Congress

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