Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi on
Friday explained she was appealing a ruling striking down the state's
ban on gay marriage because it's her job.
Monroe County Circuit Judge Luis Garcia
declared the marriage ban unconstitutional and ordered Monroe County
Clerk Amy Heavilin to begin issuing marriage licenses to gay and
lesbian couples on Tuesday, July 22.
(Related: Florida
judge strikes down state's gay marriage ban.)
Bondi immediately filed a notice of
appeal, placing the ruling on hold.
Bondi told FOX 35 that it was her job
to defend any law approved by the voters.
“If the voters choose to pass it,
it's my job to defend it,” she told the network after a speech to
the South East Volusia Chamber of Commerce. “It's not up to one
person to pick and choose. That's why we have voters.”
“It has nothing to do with anybody's
personal beliefs,” she
added. “We say there are good people on both sides of this
issue but we need a resolution in front of the United States Supreme
Court.”