Members of Student Senate voted against considering a resolution Tuesday that would have forced them to take a stance on an amendment on the ballot concerning marriage in Florida.
The proposed resolution opposed Amendment 2, which would establish Florida's definition of marriage as a legalized union between one man and one woman if approved.
Amendment 2 could lead to nullifying Gainesville's domestic partnership registry, which ensures equal opportunity for domestic partners to provide care to each other in life-threatening times.
Some senators felt the resolution, which recognizes a student issue but takes no action, was a divisive issue in which Student Senate should not have a voice while others said it was Senate's duty to debate and discuss controversial issues.
Sen. Cecil Duffie, a Gator Party member representing the freshman class, said he felt the amendment's connection to gay marriage made it a subject that should be avoided because of inefficient representation.
"How dare we senators present speak on behalf of 50,000 students?" Duffie said.
However, Alfredo Pelicci, a member of Fairness for All Families Coalition who helped author the resolution, said the amendment was not an issue of homosexuality.
"It affects 360,000 unmarried couples," Pelicci said, adding that 90 percent of the couples are heterosexual, according to figures from VoteNoOn2.com.
About 12 senators took issue with not allowing the resolution to be voted on.
"Today, I'm not rising to call you all homophobes," said Orange and Blue Party Sen. Sam Miorelli, who represents District D, as he stood at the lectern. "I'm here to call you 'votophobes' because you're afraid of voting, and you're afraid of speaking."
Independent Sen. Eric Wolf, one of the sponsors of the resolution who represents the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said gay marriage is already banned in Florida, and the amendment is just a ploy to bring a certain group of voters to the polls.
If the amendment is approved, it could also affect the partner benefits UF has offered faculty members since 2006.
UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes said benefits for UF employees were created to be nationally competitive with other universities.
Sikes said she could not say if the amendment's approval would have any effect on UF, but it would be a while before it takes effect.
