Progressive Choice Celebrates Win for Marriage Equality in Florida

Progressive Choice Florida, a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization, issued the following statement praising Thursday's court ruling declaring Florida's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional (Huntsman v. Heavilin):

Progressive Choice applauds Judge Garcias ruling declaring Floridas ban on gay marriage unconstitutional (Huntsman v. Heavilin: Case No. 2014-CA-0305-K, 16th Judicial Circuit, Monroe County, Fla.). We celebrate this victory for equality, which isnt just a victory for Florida, but for the nation as well. As Judge Garcia wrote in his decision, it is our country's proud history to protect the rights of the individual, the rights of the unpopular and the rights of the powerless, even at the cost of offending the majority.

Todays decision brings marriage equality to an additional 6 percent of the countrys population, but LGBT Americans in 29 other states continue to fight for the same legal liberties that have been unjustly afforded exclusively to straight Americans. Progressive Choice remains steadfast in its work to reduce barriers to individual rights rights that should be equal, regardless of what state you live in.

While it is unfortunate that the right to marry the person you love is something that actually needs to be fought for in 21st century America, Progressive Choice remains in this fight until the end. Today, though, we celebrate this important victory for equality, and we welcome Florida to the right side of history on this fundamental issue.

Progressive Choice works to protect core values like women's access to health care, marriage equality, public safety through gun control and public education funding for children and families. Theorganization "represents a diverse coalition of fair-minded, forward-thinking individuals and organizations advocating for progressive principles and issues that grant equal individual rights for all."