And conservative and religious activists in Florida set the wheels in motion for their latest campaign to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

The informal coalition chose the holiday to begin the petition to “draw attention to one of the biggest issues facing Florida today,” The Florida Sun-Sentinel reported yesterday.

Seventeen states have constitutional bans on gay marriage and there are petition drives in 19 other states, including Florida.

Speaking at Miami-Dade County Hall, the Christian Family Coalition and other groups said although Florida law already prevents two men or two women from getting married, an amendment to the state Constitution would prevent the courts from overturning those restrictions, something the coalition hopes they can turn into a statewide referendum in November, 2006.

Attorney Matthew Staver of the Liberty Council in Orlando said the amendment is necessary to stop five pending court challenges in court.

"This state law is being targeted for defeat," said Anthony Verdugo, executive director of the Christian Family Coalition.

The activists say they want to collect more than 600,000 valid signatures by February 2006.

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