Comments on: North Carolina Voters Add Discrimination to State Constitution

By: codyj

codyj — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:45:46 +0000

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…

By: Mark F.

Mark F. — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:43:19 +0000

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.

By: Blake

Blake — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:10:57 +0000

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:

[Protect All NC Families] recruited distinguished North Carolinians–including conservatives as well as liberals–to denounce Amendment One.

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.

By: Jay Jonson

Jay Jonson — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:33:42 +0000

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.

By: Reed

Reed — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:42:27 +0000

Charles –

What would YOU suggest?

Loathe IKEA though I may, Sweden has been a leader in LGBT rights for decades.

By: Charles

Charles — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:56:26 +0000

“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?

By: Richard Rush

Richard Rush — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:53:25 +0000

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.

By: customartist

customartist — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:40:16 +0000

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.

By: Blake

Blake — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:22:33 +0000

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.

By: Charles

Charles — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:47:56 +0000

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.