FL Marriage Licenses Now Acknowledge Gays

“That might have been kind of embarrassing in a way for a same sex couple”, Irving said. The battle to legalize gay marriage was long in Florida, where voters struck down the prospect of gay marriage in a 2008 constitutional amendment.

The Bureau of Vital Statistics, under the Florida Department of Health, sent the new forms to Clerks of Court around the state.

The change in wording comes after the ban on same-sex marriage was lifted in Florida in January, then across the country in June. Clerks asked for new forms after Florida’s ban on same sex marriage ended.

Clerks will start using the revised forms on October. 1st.

But, the battle still continues for some seeking names on other documents.

There is a lawsuit pending against the state of Florida involving same sex couples looking for both spouses to be named on birth certificates for children. A lesbian couple in St. Petersburg is suing to force the state to add a second spot for “two mothers” on future birth certificates. “They did it; they did it right”, she said. Although many states moved quickly to change the rules on birth certificates, some states like Utah and Arkansas only did so after legal action.