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News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyMay 8th, 2012
North Carolina is one of twenty states in which first cousins can legally marry. But the already existing legal ban on marriage between otherwise unrelated same-sex couples is now enshrined in the State Constitution. Voters three approved the measure 58% to 42%, making North Carolina the thirtieth state with a constitutional ban on marriage equality.
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Matt
May 8th, 2012
I think NC is the 31st. Could be wrong though.
Either way, I think the TLGB community should call on Obama and the democratic party to move their convention site to another state in protest of this.
Jim Burroway
May 9th, 2012
NC is the thirtieth with a constitutional ban. Some count Hawaii, but its constitutional amendment only puts the decision in the hands of the state legislature.
Charles
May 9th, 2012
Did anyone really believe this amendment would not pass? Charles Krauthammer last night said that in 10 years the demographics will all have changed on the issue. A new generation will come of age and the gay marriage issue will swing in our favor.
And, for the record Obama is still against gay marriage, but he is evolving on this issue, which means he wants it both ways. I am not too sure Biden’s slip of the tongue last weekend wasn’t a planned slip of the tongue, when he said that the administration if for gay marriage. But, then, with a dimwit like Biden we will never know.
Charles
May 9th, 2012
Krauthammer last night that in 10 years the issue on gay marriage will have shifted to our side because of the demographics. As we all know the older generation that adamantly opposes gay marriage is dying and the younger voters will be going to the polls, repealing these laws and making gay marriage legal. Of course there is the wild card of the United States Supreme Court who might just go ahead and make it legal before the voters make it legal.
jpeckjr
May 9th, 2012
Before anyone starts using mean names against North Carolinians and other Southerners, a quick reminder . . . California voters did the same thing in 2008.
Charles
May 9th, 2012
jpeckjr, I don’t think that if North Carolina’s Billy Graham approved of gay marriage that could altered the outcome of this vote. North Carolina is in the Bible Belt of Southern Baptists domination. Also, in North Carolina there are a lot of African-Americans who do not support gay marriage. Heck, I have a very liberal cousin who lives near Charlotte who loves Obama, but opposes gay marriage. She won’t even have the Fox News Channel turned on in her house.
Blake
May 9th, 2012
Well, I for one was certainly hoping it’d be closer. Oh well & so much for changing attitudes. From a southern perspective, we have a really really long way to go. Sad.
customartist
May 9th, 2012
I cannot tell you just how much furniture that I have either purchased for customers, or that I have sent my customers directly to Retailers in N. Carolina, but that all ended yesterday.
No more gay dollars spent in N.Carolina.
Richard Rush
May 9th, 2012
Maggie Gallagher et al. must be experiencing great joy and satisfaction today in knowing that all their hard work has paid off, and will assure the degradation and suffering of others for years to come. This video (link below) must make them feel that all their dedication, in the face of relentless attacks by vicious homo-fascists, is totally worthwhile, and is making a real difference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pR9gyloyOjM
That video shows what can be achieved when you have the courage to stand up proudly to fight for your principles and moral values.
Charles
May 9th, 2012
“I cannot tell you just how much furniture that I have either purchased for customers, or that I have sent my customers directly to Retailers in N. Carolina, but that all ended yesterday.
No more gay dollars spent in N.Carolina. – customartist”
Is that really going to help?
Reed
May 9th, 2012
Charles –
What would YOU suggest?
Loathe IKEA though I may, Sweden has been a leader in LGBT rights for decades.
Jay Jonson
May 9th, 2012
The final margin was 61 to 39. After a long, well-financed campaign, we actually lost support. One reason was that our campaign was based on a fatally flawed strategy and was duplicitous. At least that is what Claude Summers says at glbtq.com. I think he’s right.
Blake
May 9th, 2012
Jay, I agree but I think Mr. Summers has taken the national picture and tried to apply it to North Carolina. The NC group tried to raise money all over and make the campaign bipartisan.
In order to do that in NC you have to cede a lot. Evidently including the basic morality of homosexuality. If they do this:
They can’t be honest about gay people.
Regardless, I don’t think we’re going to win by reaching across the aisle because there are too many on our side of the aisle who are opposed to our basic rights. I don’t think we’re going to win on a campaign about gay people because people’s minds are already made-up about gay people by the time these amendments show up (yes they can change their mind, but it takes more time than we have in 1 campaign season).
If we’re going to win we’ve got to take the gloves off and get nasty about what our opponents are actually doing in these amendments: instituting theocratic discrimination. So scare them. Tie it to other theocracies. Make terrible slippery slope arguments that conservatives love. Somehow tie anti-gay marriage amendments to religious laws and hence to Sharia or whatever bogeyman’s in vogue. Then ask them if you really want the majority to dictate civil rights? Remind them of the founding principals of our country &, finally, call for a boycott of the election because we shouldn’t be voting for civil rights regardless.
Lets find our principals and stand on them for once.
Mark F.
May 9th, 2012
Here’s the thing, folks. This Amendment was terrible, but North Carolina had neither same sex marriage or civil unions before this Amendment passed. This Amendment makes a future change in the law difficult, but not impossible. Time is on our side. We all know that more conservatives states will be the last to see same sex marriage unless the courts intervene.
codyj
May 9th, 2012
NC sure is the ‘bible belt of so.baptists..Ever take the ‘blue ridge pkwy’ thru the state? it meanders thru countless counties..most of which are (still) proudly DRY…and theres’ a (fundie) church, every 300 feet or so..beautifull scenery,true,and beliefs and social structures from 100 yrs ago, ugh…
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