Amendment 2 narrowly passed in Florida creating the most restricting anti-gay legislation in the United States. Not only has the right to marry been taken away from same-sex couples, but also the right to adopt. Not only must we, as Americans, stand up for the most basic civil liberties, but we have to prevent legislation in the United States based on individuals' religious convictions. If we allow this to occur, not only is this violating the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, but we are giving preferability to peoples believing in specific religious beliefs. By this, we are doing a disservice to the spirit of American liberty and equality for all that our Founding Fathers implemented the separation of church and state. We must ask ourselves as Americans, if we do not have the right to marry, what rights do we have I, for one, am married and feel great compassion that the right to marry is one of the most basic human rights and one of Americans' civil liberties. I do not have a vested interests in same-sex couples being recognized as having the right to marry; I only seek true equality and believe this country must see that all its citizens are treated equally. Just as race does not play a role in someone's civil liberties, neither does someone's desire to commit to another, gender, ethnicity, or religion. Our Fore Fathers made the separation of church and state the First Amendment for a reason. I am asking Florida to stand up for the Constitution and Americans basic civil liberties and petition to have a referendum on Amendment 2.