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Tallahassee, FL - Examples of children's books used in public schools to promote same-sex marriage were displayed at a news conference in Tallahassee today, urging support for the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment (Amendment 2) which protects marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Anita Staver, President of Liberty Counsel and co-author of Amendment 2, joined Massachusetts parents Robb and Robin Wirthlin, Florida teacher James Pope, John Stemberger, Chairman of Yes2Marriage.org, David Buegler, Vice President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and local area pastors to warn Floridians about the damaging effects of same-sex marriage on public education and religious freedom.

When the Wirthlins objected to having their second grader's teacher read to the class "King and King," a cartoon book about same-sex marriage, school officials insisted that parents had no right to object because same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts. The Wirthlins joined other parents in a federal lawsuit against the school, which they lost. David Buegler, Vice President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, expressed concern about religious freedom, explaining that Lutheran pastors in California have already been pressured to perform same-sex ceremonies.

Same-sex marriage was brought to Massachusetts, California and Connecticut by courts that redefined marriage by a slim 4-3 margin. Anita Staver warned that if Amendment 2 does not pass, Florida "same-sex marriage proponents will file a barrage of lawsuits, like they did in 2004 to 2005, seeking activist judges willing to redefine marriage with the stroke of a pen."

Staver continued: "We don’t need a crystal ball to tell what's going to happen in Florida if Amendment 2 does not pass. Normalizing same-sex marriage will suppress speech and religion. The ultimate goal for those opposing Amendment 2 is to silence all opposition to same-sex behavior and the homosexual lifestyle."

Staver gave examples of situations that stifle free speech and religious freedom from states without marriage amendments: Catholic Charities in Boston was forced to stop providing adoption services because it refused to place children in same-sex households. A photographer in New Mexico was fined $6,000 for refusing to photograph a lesbian commitment ceremony. A Methodist organization in New Jersey lost its property tax exemption for refusing to allow two lesbian couples to use a pavilion for their commitment ceremonies. Staver concluded: "Florida, we've had ample warning. To prevent similar travesties from coming to this state, we need to get ready. We need to vote yes on Amendment 2."