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Quoted at the Equality Florida Gathering in Fort Lauderdale
Posted by Jameer Baptiste on 27th June 2015
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FORT LAUDERDALE==They gathered from across the country in front of the Federal Courthouse building on Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. They had but one purpose: to share the glory that the ruling handed down that morning by the Supreme Court provided.

76 year old Warren Patterson married in Massachusetts to partner of 44 years William Newton age 74.
• “It’s been a tough battle but it’s fair, what the SCOTUS did today – showing Equality for all humans. It’s time for this country to turn to a new page and get on with life.”
• “Power to the People!”

Nate Klarfeld, Equality Florida Broward Steering Committee Chair. 13 yrs. With Partner Raphael Klarfeld and married in Oct. of 2013
• “We (Equality Florida) started this many years ago, 17 years ago was started working on Civil Rights in the state of Florida at the city, county and state level. We were very involved and overturning the adaption banned and that was really the start of changing hearts and minds of people in Florida.”
• “Equality Florida has been there every step of the way.”
• “I believe Florida has lead the entire South for Civil Rights for Gays and Lesbians and I think this is just the beginning. This is just the first part of a long journey -You can get married at 10 in the morning, fired from your job at noon and be evicted from your home at 2 o’clock.”
• This year the Florida state legislature is taking on the Florida Competitive workforce act and equality Florida has a fulltime staff person in Tallahassee who is helping to lobby the bill.” “What this bill does is prevent people from losing their job for being gay or lesbian. Prevent them for losing housing and allow transgender rights in the workplace.”

Alex Ross and Robert Fronckoski, engaged for two years
• “In August, it will be 9 years for us together. Next year we are going to finally tie the knot. We are just ecstatic that Florida passed it and now the whole nation.”

Deputy Director Stratton Pollitzer of Equality Florida.
• “We individuals stand up for what is right. When people tell the truth about their lives, we can overcome discrimination.”
• “I think it is also incredibly important that Florida dismantled its own marriage banned six months ago. We played a critical role in this narrative. Florida in welcoming marriage in January show the South was ready and showed the Supreme Court that the country is ready. We helped win this decision today.”
• “It is a huge celebration. And then tomorrow, when we get done sweeping up the confetti, we got to go back to work because in 57 of 67 counties in Florida, it is still perfectly legal to fire somebody for being LGBT. There’s a lot of work left to do but we are going to celebrate first.”

Rev. August Gold who just moved to Florida from NY. Former Rev. of at Sacred Center New York.
• “I burst into tears (as a bet practically everyone did in their own way) and I realized in that moment how many years and how many lives and how much work and how much we sacrificed for this day. And it was so profound to know that we are here to notice the victory of love over fear. If only for a brief shinning moment to know that it is possible that fear will always be eclipse by this marvelous power of love.”
• As she chuckled and smiled, she said, “Is it amazing that in this country, every bodies heart opened to it at this time. That’s what gives me hope that we are all moving in the right direction at this time.”

Renato and Tommy Married February 5, 2015 in Hawaii
• “We are just relieved that we are recognized every year.”

RJ Hadley together with KD since Oct. 29. Wedding this July.
• “Excited to be here at this rally to support marriage equality which was granted in all 50 states in the United States.”
• “I’m marrying the man of my life in a few weeks.”
• “Florida has already approved equal marriage, but it’s still exciting that everyone everywhere in this territory can be legal, happily married to celebrate the love and unity that marriage really is.”

Broward County Commissioner Martin Kiar (who is straight, but that’s okay too)
• “For the past two days, it’s been so exciting. First for the SCOTUS upholding Obama Care and now with the SCOTUS basically stating to everybody regardless of who you love, you get to marry. And not just state by state, but the whole country. There are a lot of people today getting to experience the same happiness that my wife and I get to experience everyday, so I’m very happy.”