A year after a federal judge ruled Florida’s gay marriage ban unconstitutional, the state is finally taking steps to make the necessary updates to marriage and death certificates.
Friday is the anniversary of District Judge Robert Hinkle’s ruling. But even after it took effect Jan. 6, Florida’s marriage applications and certificates would allow entries only for “Husband” and “Wife.”
The new forms, expected to be available by mid-September, will provide a place for the name of each “Spouse.”
As the state Bureau of Vital Statistics sought public comment on the proposed change this summer, Equality Florida submitted 1,266 signatures in support of this inclusive update.
“Equality Florida is committed to making sure the state of Florida fully implements marriage equality and treats LGBT families equally under the law,” said Hannah Willard, the organization’s marriage issues coordinator.
A separate challenge by Equality Florida and three lesbian couples over the state’s refusal to allow same-sex spouses to be listed on birth certificates in the same way that different-sex spouses are is pending. State officials currently insist that only the birth mother be listed on a newborn child’s birth certificate and that she be listed as single even if she is married to a woman.
The National Center for Lesbian Rights filed suit on behalf of Equality Florida and the three couples on August 13.
