Equality in CA, but what about NC?

I saw a chance on Equality NC's website to share a letter with local leaders on the "defense of marriage" amendment. I see CA moving in the right direction, and I don't want NC to move in the wrong one. (Arnold wont let it happen through legislation, but will through the courts... whats up with that? But I digress) Check this out, and feel free to share a copy of your own letter if you choose to. http://eqfed.org/campaign/amendment08 Here is my letter:

Dear Senator/Representative _____________,

I'm asking you to vocally oppose the "defense of marriage"
amendment. I've lived in NC all my life. I grew up in the
western part of the state. I went to college in Raleigh. I now
live in Chapel Hill and work in Carrboro. I have friends and
family all across this state. This is my home. A home I am very
proud to call my home. And if this amendment happens I'm going
to have to leave my home.

I work hard, I pay my taxes, I donate to charities, I'm active
in my community, and I enjoy the company of all the people I've
come to know in this great state. I shouldn't have try to make
the case that I'm a decent citizen to ask for equal rights, but
I am making it anyways because I don't know what else to do. And
one of the greatest moments of my life happened earlier this
year with my engagement to my partner of the past 5 years and
this threatens to turn that moment into a tragedy instead of a
joy.

Religion is an important thread in the fabric of this state and
I understand and respect that. But this isn't religion, this
isn't love, this isn't good, this isn't about bringing people
together, and this isn't supporting any of the highest qualities
of any religion. And this definitely isn't a defense of
marriage, this is an offense against marriage, and if this
hate-mongering becomes the law of my homeland I'm going to have
to leave. But you wont just lose me. You'll lose my partner who
is a leading classicist at UNC and theres a good chance you'd
lose my mother a lifelong public school teacher who I doubt
would stay in a state that would make this law, and you may lose
my brother the coach, and you'll lose some of my partner's
family and friends, and you'll lose several close out of state
friends who are in college here and deciding whether or not to
make NC there home, and you'll lose all the other people gay or
straight with talents & dreams who are hurt enough by this to
leave the state, and you'd lose all the people who love them
enough to feel that this isn't the home for them, but most of
all the state would lose a little part of its soul when it takes
a step towards discrimination and exclusion.

I am not predicting a mass exodus from the state. Some will be
lost in terms of leaving the state but many more will be lost in
terms of respecting the state. I do see this as a potential
fundamental change in dynamics that will diminish our state as a
whole. We are at out best when we stand united instead of
pushing for exclusion. For the republicans this is more
government, not less, and for the democrats this is less
inclusion, not more, so opposing this measure should be a
bipartisan goal. I beg that you share this plea, and use your
voice to stop this.

Sincerely,
Jake Goad