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GOProud’s Chris Barron: Amendment One is simple bigotry – NC is better than that

Monday, April 30th, 2012

 NC is better than that

  See Pam Spaulding’s foreward on her site – (link below)
Christopher R. Barron is co-founder of GOProud and serves as its Chief Strategist. GOProud   is often derided in the LGBT community; as a gay conservative organization (of the free market, limited government variety) it is seen as reflexively supportive of conservative policies and politicians that come at the expense of LGBT rights. ….

My North Carolina ties are deep. I grew up in Goldsboro, North Carolina. I attended undergrad at UNC-Greensboro and East Carolina University and got my law degree from Wake Forest. Both of my brothers still live in North Carolina with their wives and children. I will always consider North Carolina home, which is why I am passionately urging every North Carolinian – whether liberal or conservative – to vote against Amendment 1.

I am lucky enough to be legally married to my partner of 10 years under the laws of the District of Columbia where we live. However, you don’t have to gay or in favor of gay marriage to oppose Amendment 1.

Amendment 1 not only bans gay marriage, it is also so broadly written that it bans civil unions, domestic partnerships and threatens to outlaw any benefits offered to same-sex couples. While I support marriage equality, I understand that the country is still debating this issue, and that different states are coming to different conclusions and that will continue. This debate is healthy, and reflects the best our democracy has to offer. There is simply no reason to end this debate for all time with a Constitutional amendment.

The law in North Carolina is already clear. Whether I like it or not, marriage is defined as between a man and a woman.

What is really motivating this amendment, is what makes it so dangerous for my home state. What really motivates this amendment isn’t about protecting “traditional marriage” or making sure every child has a mother and father. No, what motivates this amendment is simple bigotry – and North Carolina is better than that.

See article posted on Pam Spaulding’s site at  Click Here

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NC: Asheville Votes 4-2 to Move Ahead on Domestic Partner Benefits

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

City Council took a key and controversial step Tuesday in extending benefits to the partners of gay municipal employees. The move followed pleas for and against the motion by gay and straight members of the Asheville Police Department, civic leaders, ministers and others. Passions ran high with police at one point removing a speaker from the council chambers, which was filled to capacity with 70 people.

The council voted 4-2 to have city staff report March 9 on how workers’ same-sex domestic partners could get the same benefits as heterosexual employees’ spouses, including health insurance, bereavement leave and prescription drug coverage. A majority of council members said they expect to vote for a final measure after the report.

Councilman Gordon Smith advanced the proposal, saying the change fit Asheville’s tradition of being a friendly and diverse city. “Tonight we can continue that tradition and provide equal compensation for equal work,” Smith said.

Full Story from the Citizen Times
Click here for gay marriage resources in North Carolina.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in asheville, city council, domestic partner benefits, nc, north carolina, vote | No Responses »

NC: Asheville to Consider Health Benefits for Partners of Gay/Lesbian Employees Tonight

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

A potentially polarizing vote is expected tonight on whether the City Council should extend benefits to same-sex partners of city employees. Councilman Gordon Smith is asking the council to move forward with the idea of giving same-sex domestic partners health insurance, bereavement leave and other benefits.

If a majority votes yes, city staff would come back to the council at a later date with information including estimated costs and who would qualify. A final vote on the measure could then follow. Granting the benefits would “provide equal rights to our employees who are denied the option to marry,” Smith said.

A majority of the seven-member council – whose makeup became more liberal after November’s election – have already said they support the idea and would likely vote for the ultimate extension of benefits.

Full Story from the Citizen-Times
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in asheville, bereavement, city council, domestic partners, health benefits, nc, north carolina | No Responses »

New Greensboro, NC Billboard Supports Gay Marriage

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Forty-three years.  That’s how long it’s been since Ellen Gerber fell in love with the person who would become her partner for life. Forty-three years of love — but no wedding ring. And that’s why they soon will be on a billboard above Battleground Avenue near Cone Boulevard.

The billboard, paid for by the Triad Equality Alliance, features pictures of long-term gay and lesbian couples, including Gerber and her partner, Pearl Berlin.

It’s part of an effort aimed at achieving what Gerber, 73, describes as her dream. “I want to live long enough to be able to get married in North Carolina,” she said.

Full Story from the News-Record: http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/09/27/article/billboard_supports_gay_marriage

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in North Carolina.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com with “subscribe blog” as the subject. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in billboard, commitment, couples, greensboro, nc, north carolina, pro gay marriage | No Responses »