North Carolina slated to pass same-sex marriage ban amendment

While the Obama administration continues to flip-flop on the question of same-sex marrage, North Carolina gives us good reminder why we are in desperate need of leaders that take a stand on supporting full rights same-sex couples. North Carolina is slated to vote on an amendment that would essentially ban same-sex marriage along with civil unions. North Carolina is the only state in the region that does not have an all out ban–but same-sex marriage is still illegal through statute. This law would merely make it even harder to repeal, banning marriage and denying certain rights including family protection, health insurance, etc.

And it looks like it is going to pass.

A survey of 1,026 likely Democratic and Republican primary voters showed North Carolinians look poised to pass the amendment.

Raleigh-based Public Policy Polling found 55 percent of those questioned on May 5-6 supported the amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions while 39 percent opposed it. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

Twenty-eight states have voter-approved constitutional bans on same-sex marriages, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

via Reuters

Pam notes at FDL this is not about religion or regulating same-sex marriage, but denying certain people rights they already have. She publishes an open letter by the North Carolina president of the NAACP where he states how this law won’t do shit for marriage, but will only hurt a minority group. And reminds us that the constitution should be used to expand rights and liberties, not deny them.

Our research shows that today shadowy money with connections to ultraconservative think-tanks and millionaires are financing a cynical move to trick some North Carolina voters in next year’s election by trying to place a state constitutional amendment on the issue of “Same Sex Marriage” on the presidential election ballot. The Family Research Council has reportedly paid for radio ads, targeting both African American and White legislators who have large African American constituencies. The millionaires who fund these election tricks could care less about who marries whom. But they invest their money in issues that will affect who votes for whom. They tried to cut back on early voting and to make everyone wait in line at the DMV to get a picture ID before they can vote. Now they want to forever write discrimination into the N.C. Constitution as a means of affecting the presidential vote. The millionaires’ purpose is simple: They want to distract voters’ attention from our pressing economic problems to a personal issue of conscience–a matter best dealt with in our houses of worship and our consciences. This is a matter of conscience, not constitutions.

Let this be what voters in North Carolina remember today on primary day.