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Legislation to protect pastors who refuse to marry same sex couples moved one step closer to a vote by the full Senate today at the State Capitol. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, both sides in the debate believe they are being targeted.

There’s no middle ground in the debate over Pastor Protection.

Sot: Michael Rajner is a Gay Rights Activist.  “Its the concerns over the hatred and the bigotry toward the gay community.”

But pastors say its not about hate. Its about avoiding law suits.

Pastor Abraham Rivera came from the La Puerta Life Center in Miami. “We’re pastors, we’re not politicians or lawyers, and we can not afford to fight legal fights just to be able to do what with do with our first amendment rights, so this reaffirms it.”

The so called pastor protection act would keep them for being sued if they refuse to marry someone. It also guarantees their tax exempt status won’t be taken away when they do. Pastor Gerald Bustin told the committee the bible is his everything.

“I anchor everything I preached everything I believe is that the bible is the word of god. I’m not hateful toward people, but I do live by the bible.” says Bustin.

Nadine Smith of Equality Florida says it is much to do about nothing. “The First amendment of the United States Constitution protects every clergy member from being compelled to marry anyone, for any reason.”

The legislation cleared the committee by a six to one vote.

The pastors we talked to made it clear: with or without this legislation, they’re still going to say no to same sex couples.

That’s because pastors like Jesse Sanders of Tallahassee say the decision on whom to marry isn’t in their hands.

“We stand on god’s word. Marriage is between a man and a woman.”

Q:So, you would refuse to marry a gay couple?”

A:”I would, I would.”

Q:”Are you afraid of being sued?”

A:”No sir.”

The Senate bill has one more committee stop. In at least one of the lawsuits, Idaho pastors were sued when they refused to make a marriage chapel available to a gay couple.