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NC, USA: Someone Stole Banner Opposing Amendment One From Church

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

Someone Stole Banner Opposing Amendment One From North Carolina ChurchMembers of Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem say they will replace a banner stolen off on their property that expressed opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Members of the church on Robinhood Road had put up the banner two weeks ago, said Janet Owen, the chairwoman of the church’s social action council. Owen said the banner was gone Monday morning. Someone had taken the banner out of the metal frame, she said.

The proposed constitutional amendment is on the May 8 ballot and would define marriage between a man and a woman as the only legally recognized domestic union in North Carolina.

Full Story from the Winston-Salem Journal

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NC, USA: Billy Graham’s Son Endorses Amendment One

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

Last week Billy Graham’s daughter warned that God will destroy North Carolina if the amendment is not approved.

Full Story from Joe.My.God

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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

NC, USA: GOProud’s Barron Comes Out Against Amendment One

Monday, April 30th, 2012

North Carolina: GOProud's Barron Comes Out Against Amendment OneMy 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.

Full Story from Pam’s House Blend

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NC, USA: Early Voting Surges in North Carolina

Monday, April 30th, 2012

North Carolina's Amendment One is "Bigotry on the Ballot"The gay marriage debate isn’t just hype anymore. That’s because early voting on a proposed constitutional amendment is underway.

So far, there’s been a surge in turnout leading up to the May 8 North Carolina primary election. More than 120,000 votes have been cast so far.

The proposed ban on gay marriage and other domestic unions, is credited with driving the high numbers. This first week of one-stop may even surpass any other primary since the state began early voting in 2000.

Full Story from WNCT

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NC, USA: Amendment One is “Bigotry on the Ballot”

Monday, April 30th, 2012

North Carolina's Amendment One is "Bigotry on the Ballot"North Carolina already has a law barring same-sex marriage, but the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature is not satisfied. It devised a measure to enshrine this obvious discrimination in the State Constitution and placed it on the ballot of the state’s May 8 primary election — a test of tolerance versus bigotry that ought to be watched closely nationwide.

In their zeal, lawmakers got careless with the wording of the measure, known as Amendment One. It would constitutionally prohibit recognition not just of same-sex marriages, but of other legal arrangements like civil unions and domestic partnerships. That could harm all unmarried couples, imperiling some children’s health insurance benefits, along with child custody arrangements and safeguards against domestic violence.

The campaign against the amendment is being spearheaded by a coalition of civic, religious, business and civil rights leaders and groups. One of Amendment One’s most vocal opponents is the Rev. William Barber II, president of the state chapter of the N.A.A.C.P. Mr. Barber draws a strong link between the proposed amendment and struggles against racial unfairness, an appeal with special resonance following the publication in March of memos from the National Organization for Marriage, one the most prominent groups fighting same-sex marriage, about driving “a wedge between gays and blacks.”

Full Story from The New York Times

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NC, USA: Lesbian Comes Out, Says Amendment One Sponsor “Slapped” Every Gay Person in the State

Monday, April 30th, 2012

Andrew posted this video last week in a round-up, but I just wanted to post it again since there are only 8 days until the heinous Amendment One appears on North Carolina’s ballot and this clip is one of the most powerful I’ve seen in recent weeks and I think more people should see it.

In addition to a lesbian’s public coming out and her powerful speech, the clip also reveals Amendment One’s sponsor Rep. Jim Crawford, revealing that he doesn’t support the version that’s on the ballot.

Says the woman angrily:

“If this Amendment One passes and becomes part of our state constitution I won’t have the right in this state to visit my partner of 38 years were she laying dying in the hospital. I wouldn’t have the right to arrange her funeral were she to die because I wasn’t a direct member of her family.”

Full Story from Towleroad.com

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NC, USA: On the Streets, Couples Discuss Amendment One

Sunday, April 29th, 2012

On the Streets of North Carolina, Couples Discuss Amendment OneThe questions have both divided and united North Carolinians since fall, when the General Assembly introduced a ballot initiative — referred to commonly as Amendment One — that would have the constitution specify which relationships the state considers valid or invalid.

Would the amendment protect the sanctity of heterosexual marriage? To what extent would it impose hardships for people in relationships outside the realm of those traditional unions? And would it make North Carolina a less attractive place to do business, as a coalition of business leaders statewide have worried?

Voters on May 8 will see these 27 words: “Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.”

Full Story from the Citizen Times

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NC, USA: NAACP Fighting Amendment One

Sunday, April 29th, 2012

NAACP Fighting Amendment One in North CarolinaThe NAACP has not only condemned North Carolina’s proposed Amendment One, which would constitutionally ban gay marriage in the state, the group has purchased radio commercials urging voters reject the measure.

The radio spots are part of a multimedia effort by the African-American civil rights organization to defeat Amendment One.

Full Story from The Advocate

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NC, USA: Legislative Overreach May Cost Amendment One Supporters

Sunday, April 29th, 2012

NC, USA: Legislative Overreach May Cost Amentment One SupportersWhen you don’t have any other card to play when it comes to discriminating against LGBTs, out comes the bible. Without fail; it’s been clear from Day One that the people at Vote for Marriage NC could not find a way to make the case to add a measure to the state constitution to “protect marriage” without conflating church and state and preying upon fears and ignorance of voters. Its latest volley – recruiting Franklin Graham, the anti-gay preacher son of Billy Graham for its radio ad, released Friday (N&O):

The Rev. Franklin Graham has recorded a message supporting a proposed amendment to North Carolina’s constitution that would limit traditional marriage as the only recognized domestic legal union in the state.

The pro-amendment Vote FOR Marriage NC released late Friday the audio message from Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham and head of the Samaritan’s Purse organization in Boone.

Franklin Graham asks listeners to “take a stand on God’s definition of marriage” between a man and a woman and vote for the amendment on the May 8 primary ballot. Anne Graham Lotz – Franklin Graham’s sister – also has said she supports the amendment.

Full Story from Pam’s House Blend

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