In March, a Hillsborough circuit judge refused to grant the joint request of a gay couple to ratify a marital settlement agreement and dissolve their marriage.

Florida Statute §741.22 prohibits courts from recognizing valid marriages in other states or countries of same-sex couples and prohibits the courts from considering any “claim arising from such marriage or relationship,” despite the fact that Florida law recognizes valid marriages in other states and countries, even common-law marriages.