NC Alert: State Constitution Amendment to Ban Same Sex Marriages

[LostInTime]

New Version of Anti-LGBT Amendment Introduced

Last week, on the first day of the 2006 session, Sen. James Forrester and 18 other Republican members of the Senate introduced Senate Bill 1228, which would amend the state constitution to discriminate against same-sex couples.

Far right legislators are pushing to pass an anti-LGBT, anti-marriage state constitutional amendment in the next two months. Equality NC and our allies prevented this amendment from passing in 2004 and 2005--in fact, North Carolina is the only state in the South to stop such an amendment in the legislature. But we have to fight hard to stop it again this year.

If passed, the amendment would not only elevate the discriminatory ban on same-sex marriage to the state constitution, it would prohibit any recognition of same-sex partners in North Carolina. In fact, the language of the amendment is so broad it could prevent private companies from offering domestic partner health benefits.

Our plans for fighting the amendment include both grassroots and "insider" strategies. Our supporters are contacting their legislators and letting them know they oppose this amdendment. People will be coming to Raleigh from across the state on June 6 to talk face to face with their legislators about how this bill would hurt them or their loved ones. And we'll have our strong, professional lobbying team monitoring this bill every day and working with legislators to stop the attack on same-sex families.

In order to become law, the amendment must pass both houses of the legislature with a 3/5 majority and be approved by a simple majority of voters on the November 2006 ballot.

How can you help?

    * Contact your legislators today and ask them to oppose this amendment.
    * Ask others to speak out. Tell your friends, family, co-workes and others why this matters to you and ask them to email their legislators.
    * Commit to attending Lobby Day on June 6. Click here for more information and to register.
    * Make a special contribution to support Equality NC's advocacy work.

Together, we can keep bigotry and discrimination out of our constituion.

Summer's notes:
Support from all over would be appreciated.  Equality NC has come a long way and does fight for gender identity to be in anti-discrimnation laws/policies.  MOF, here is there Fair Employment Petition.

Not only that but last night I volunteered time and was treated very well and had a wonderful time.  As my schedule permits, I will definately help them out again.

[Kate]

What I can never figure out is why are these issues ever put up for a vote?

It'd be like... I dunno... voting for a state religion, or whether to bring back slavery, or whether to ban all brown-eyed people from marrying blue-eyed people.

They have no RIGHT to vote on this, or to make it a law. It's not a matter of winning the vote, it's a matter of exposing the illegality of legislating bigotry in the first place.

It reminds me of that old joke about the lawyer who asks the defendent, "so, have you stopped beating your wife yet?"

[LostInTime]

I deal with the state government everyday.  It is only a matter of luck that the horse and buggy is not the main mode of transportation down here.  Very backwards thinking and they allow the smallest details to mire things in the muck.  It is one of the reasons why I go north every few months.

Fortunately, we have been able to keep the amendment from going through for a variety of reasons, including the fact that some conservatives dislike meddling with the State's Constitution or giving the state more power.  That is not to say they will pass a law allowing freedom because they still think that we are the anti-christ who has come to town.

[taylor]

Hey Lost,

I am in NC also, about 2.5 hrs from Raliegh, and I have not heard a word of this in our local news...does that not tell us something also?? Not on talk radio, not on tv. not in papers...go figure!

I will pass this on to some of my co workers at Dept. DSS that are openly in same sex partnerships and give them this heads up.  It just pisses me off to see them pull crap and say little to nothing until it is done. Kind of like those late night meetings that don't take place in public eye, but effects everyone....nationwide really.

Well listen thanks for the heads up i will truly pass this info on.

Peace,

Taylor

[Alexandra]

They have no RIGHT to vote on this, or to make it a law.

Actually they have a right to pass any law they deem fit. They were elected in an open and free election and are representing the people that elected them.

Now whether or not the law they passed (or propose) is consitutional is an entirely different matter. No doubt this law will have to work its way through the court system, stopping at the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.

Votershave the right to throw the bums out for ANY reason. Vote accordingly.

[taylor]

In my honest opinion,, voting does nothing!! Why would I say that? Simple, because I do not see many elected officials doing one dam thing that they were voted in to do.... I see them doing a lot that will increase their pockets and their personal gains, that is all.


We need to do more than vote, We need to get heard! Please don't tell me that my vote is my voice, get real...take a look around ...it is a whisper in the middle of a canyon full of the sound of screams of greed!

[Alexandra]

all the bums in public office were VOTED in fair and square and often times, reelected. surely you're not suggesting a system were we go against the will of the people. perhaps anger should be directed at your fellow voters? anyway, the consititution protects citizens from nutty voters.

[michelle]

Not all elections are fair and square,  not all politicians are honest about their intentions when they run for election,   not all politicians are honest,  majority vote put the Japanese in interment camps during World War II,  Blacks, Native Americans, Hispanics, migrant workers, and women in a second class status for years and years in the United States, and elected Hitler in Germany.   When the majority position is morally wrong then the the minority needs to standup and prevent it from happening.   


The ability to vote and money has given  Asians,  Blacks, Native Americans, Hispanics, migrant workers,  women, and other once disinfrancised groups a larger piece of the pie and increasing economic and political power in the United States.    Fear of losing power or not gaining power because a politician does not support the rights of all of the Citizens including us eventually will protect our rights as it has done for others.  It may just take a long time.

[Alexandra]

Not all elections are fair and square,  not all politicians are honest about their intentions when they run for election,   not all politicians are honest, 

The vast majority of the elections in the United States ARE fair and square. Canidates and voters have recourse through the courts. Rarely is an outcome reversed because the number of votes in dispute wouldn't change the outcome anyway. In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Bush won, so that's that.

As for dishonest politicans, why do they get re-elected over and over again? Voters are saying it doesn't matter.

Its true, I select my politicans based on how they will vote on the issues. They can be lying liars and have sex in the white house, but as long as they continue to vote my way, they have my support.

moral: don't listen to what they say, but rather, watch what they do (on the issues) because these things are what directly impacts you and your lifestyle personally!

[Kate Thomas]

hey! wat ya must do is follow Lost in Time's lead and get active.
To the decisionmakers we are just a small faceless crowd.   

get to the lobby day,
Raleigh NC
Tuesday, June 6, 2006

9:00 am to 3:00 pm

http://equalitync.org/events2/20060606

they will
Train you on issues
help setup appointments with your represenatives.

This puts a face on a faceless issue.

it is your voice they need most to hear.

[taylor]

To vote effectively you need to be accurately and HONESTLY informed. It would not hurt to have people worth voting for either.

[jan c]

surely you're not suggesting a system were we go against the will of the people. perhaps anger should be directed at your fellow voters? anyway, the consititution protects citizens from nutty voters.

will of the people. a mass will. (a mass cannot have a single will)
Mob rules ok.

That's a contradiction if you ask me. Can you name a "dictator" that was "elected" in the United States that is/was immune from being voted out of office or term limits.

I can name one, in another Democracy, Adolf Hitler. Same 'Checks'/same 'Balances' there as here (actually it is arguable that ours is not as strong now as there and then.) Prove Me Wrong.

>Bush: A figurehead. A saleman. For a regime that does not want to quit. Vote 'im out. Big diff. Pheh.
An electronic voting system, no paper trail. (Do I really need to point out the problematics of this? I doubt any of us online are that techno-naive.)
Not every vote is destined to count.

>Also FYI, I live in the SF Bay Area of California USA. My Senators and Representatives are about all I can hope to have in this system. Not ideal but dems de breaks. I cannot vote in North Carolina even by proxy.
I do however contact Congress in/of many localities.

>Was I supposed to go vote for Albert Gore in '00? Wouldn't've mattered, he carried CA easily.

>PLEASE ELUCIDATE THIS CLAIM - "the consititution protects citizens from nutty voters."

[Alexandra]

jan c, I said "in the United States." Other countries may call themselves a "democracy" but it is name only. Iraq under saddam was one of them.

whatever you want to call bush, he is no dictator. he leaves office in 2009, even if its against his will.

nutty voters: people that want selfish legislation that divides people into catagories and classifications and doles out "rights" based on whether people people meet certain criteria.

jan, please suggest a better democracy system that would appeal to the masses (the right and the left and those in the middle).

[taylor]

Alexandra,

You said The Right, the Middle and the Left.... are you seriously stating we have a third party in this country??? Because as a third party member, I was informed by the state of NC I am no longer a registered voter because my party does "not exist" anymore in this state. I have been directed to re register if I would like to vote. No I am not kidding!
Taylor