gay marriage

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:

"Statutes can always be repealed or superseded by other conflicting statutes"

We need a constitutional amendment to ensure no judge makes it legal to murder. Right?

Here's a copy of the body of an email I sent to my state Senator, Linda Garrou, this morning:

I hope you are doing well as you take care of the people's business in Raleigh. I just wanted to drop you a line to see what your thoughts/feelings are about the measures that have been presented in the House and Senate that seek to amend the state constitution regarding marriage.

I find these measures troubling on many levels, as I am a concerned citizen, active in the community here, and I'm the new chair of precinct 82 for the Forsyth Democratic Party. Is there anything that you are doing to fight these mean-spirited measures that seek to enshrine discrimination into our state constitution? I know we already have a couple of laws on the books concerning this issue (an antiquated measure from the 19th century and a mean-spirited act from the mid 1990s), and, while I disagree with them, I respect them as the law of this state until a judge or panel of judges sees fit to show them for what they are----an unconstitutional tyranny of the majority.

I read Laura Leslie's blog at WUNC-FM almost every day. She has a great way with words and may very well be the most insightful reporter in North Carolina covering state government. Today she offers a unique perspective on the pity party held in the name of god yesterday in Raleigh.

Why now?

National and state polling shows dwindling concern about protecting traditional marriage. There's no imminent election to mobilize voters for. There's no challenge in the courts to the state's existing "defense of marriage" law. And there's no indication that either House Speaker Joe Hackney or Senate Pro Tem Marc Basnight are rethinking their opposition to a constitutional amendment on it. So why bus in six thousand youth group members and evangelicals for no discernible cause and no plausible effect?

[I have changed the title of this diary, but not the content. The original title reflected my feelings and thoughts immediately following this event. It has served its purpose. It was intended to provoke the discussion which subsequently took place. Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Greg]

I’ve grown so cynical about the cynical attempts to “protect” marriage with a constitutional amendment that I’ve coined my own phrase for proponents: Maggots - a blend of marriage and bigotry produces big maggots. They were in abundance this morning on the Halifax Mall, a veritable quiverfull of bored teenagers, angry white men and women in long denim skirts with woolen tights. Yes there were nice people there - very, very, quiet, nice people.

My marriage is sowing the seeds of societal destruction in NC once again.

Yes, it's that time of year again. A group of scared, middle-aged white men (and this year, one woman)  is so threatened by my relationship with Kate that they've gone back to the drawing board to write discrimination into our state constitution.

Senate Bill 13 (SB13) was filed yesterday. The pertinent language:

Marriage is the union of one man and one woman at one time. This is the only marriage that shall be recognized as valid in this State. The uniting of two persons of the same sex or the uniting of more than two persons of any sex in a marriage, civil union, domestic partnership, or other similar relationship within or outside of this State shall not be valid or recognized in this State. This Constitution shall not be construed to require that marital status or the rights, privileges, benefits, or other legal incidents of marriage be conferred upon unmarried individuals or groups."

The prior three attempts have died in committee. The Dem controlled General Assembly has kept it bottled up. That, friends, is the only reason that this state hasn't had an amendment on the ballot. If it ever made it to the polls, it would most certainly pass. The larger question to ask all legislators:

In your opinion, is it appropriate for the people of North Carolina to determine the civil rights of their fellow citizens by direct vote at the ballot box?

It's all or nothing folks, because if they truly believe this is the case, then I want the right to vote on the marriages of the rest of me fellow neighbors and a whole host of other rights, including placing some restrictions on religious fundamentalism. But the answer to this question should be "no." The civil rights of a minority of people should never be determined by the majority.

With stronger Dem numbers this year, we're hoping the same will happen again, but we have to deal with the clowns below stirring up trouble and shameless bigotry.

Primary sponsor of this "essential legislation" --

Email: Jamesf@ncleg.net
District:  41
Counties Represented: Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln

See the rest of the Tarheel homophobes in favor of discrimination after the flip.

I am absolutely sure that Pope will begin the process to put gay marriage on the ballot in 2008. We are trending so hard blue these days that the right-wing folks are going to desperately attempt to turn out their anti-personal freedom folks (gay marriage, abortion) and their anti-anti-personal freedom folks (NRA)in 2008. One sure-fire way to do that is to put forth a "marriage protection" amendment like they have done in so many states. It's red meat for the evangelical crowd.

I just hope, that when the time comes, we will be half as witty and imaginative as these folks.

On Monday, October 23, 2006, voters in Moore County - NC House district 52, were given another opportunity to hear the views of the candidates in that unusual three-way race. The forum was held at Sandhills Community College, sponsored by the Pilot, and Muirfield Broadcasting. It will be shown on our local cable channel many times over the next two weeks. I urge all of you in the viewing area who can pick up "Channel 3" from Southern Pines to watch this one.

Among the high points of the evening - Republican Joe Boylan announced that if elected to the NC House of Representatives in November, he would move quickly to solve the biggest social problem facing Moore County today - gay marriage. Read more about it!

Cross-post from Matt's personal blog, MattHillNC.com |The Q-triad Blog

Tonight, the Thomasville City Council approved, five to one, a resolution urging the North Carolina General Assembly to send an anti-gay marriage amendment to the voters. The Council will send their resolution to Thomasville's representatives in the General Assembly, where it should be circulated to the other members and promptly ignored by our Democrat-controlled Senate and House (as the amendment has been ignored for the past three years in a row). The meeting, however, didn't come without a fight from those supportive of equality and those who simply want government out of the business of marriage. There were plenty of positive things too, including some great statements against the resolution from a Thomasville citizen who also noted the great statements from one of Thomasville's City Councilmembers.

Tonight, October 16, 2006, 7pm, on the second floor of the Thomasville Police Building (7 West Guilford Street - map), the Thomasville City Council will meet. On their agenda is a resolution urging the North Carolina General Assembly to send an amendment banning same-sex marriage to the voters (See our October 14th Press Release: Gay and lesbian PAC urges Thomasville City Council to vote "No").

Please join us at tonight's meeting of the Thomasville City Council meeting! Speak with us during the Council's Public Forum section of the agenda and tell the City Council why this resolution is both un-necessary and harmful for North Carolina.