Opponents of same-sex marriage sign petition to uphold ban

Christian Family Coalition delivers thousands of signatures asking state to respect standing constitutional amendment

MIAMI – Members of the Christian Family Coalition are delivering thousands of signed petitions to a Miami judge, asking the state to uphold the standing constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriage.

In Miami-Dade County six same-sex couples challenged Florida's voter-approved ban. A hearing was held just before the Fourth of July holiday weekend and ended without a ruling from Judge Sarah Zabel.

Now faith-based opponents to lifting the ban are trying to get the judge's attention by delivering petitions, but they picked a day she was not in her office. A member of the Christian Family Coalition told Local 10's Christina Vazquez he planned to take petitions to the chief judge instead.

READ: Petition to uphold same-sex marriage ban

Florida's ban on same-sex marriage was upheld in 2008 with 62 percent of the vote, defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

But opponents are against a tidal wave of legal challenges to same-sex marriage bans nationwide. Many voter-approved state bans to same-sex marriage have been falling since the summer of last year when the Supreme Court ruled some provisions of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act were unconstitutional because it violates equal protection and due process.

Zabel is expected to rule any day now.