Florida’s fight for marriage equality is officially over.
State attorney general Pam Bondi dropped her appeal that fought same-sex marriage July 7. She submitted a single sentence to Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal: “Pursuant to Rule 9.350(b) of the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure, Appellant State of Florida hereby voluntarily dismisses these appeals.”
In 2014, three different Florida judges ruled the state’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. Bondi appealed all of the cases and fought to extend stays placed on the rulings in favor of marriage equality. She eventually was denied all requests for extension and same-sex marriage became legal in Florida Jan. 6, 2015. On June 26, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples may legally marry throughout the United States.
“Pam Bondi has finally acknowledged the inevitable – marriage equality is the law of the land and there is nothing she can do about it,” said Mary Meeks, Orlando attorney and LGBT activist. “Now, can we expect an apology and reimbursement to Florida citizens for the substantial costs she incurred on their behalf to fight a losing battle in support of institutionalized bigotry?”
