North Carolina's Amendment 1 Passes

[Jordan Catalano]

Eat Sh*t & Die, North Carolina

[broadwaydevil]

These amendments are insane. Gay marriage is already illegal in all of these states. It's now "extra illegal" and will become even more difficult to reverse if any of these people ever come to their senses. Additionally, this amendment means that civil unions will no longer be recognized because it includes language that only a marriage is a recognized union eligible for benefits. If people on the right are claiming that gay people can get the same rights of marriage through civil unions (which is decidedly false and even if it were true rings eerily similar to the Plessy v. Ferguson separate but equal ruling,) this amendment proves that gay people are inherently being denied rights available to others. I really think a law like this could actually be struck down in the Supreme Court. (Am I too optimistic?)

[dramamama611]

But sadly, is anyone truly suprised?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

this amendment proves that gay people are inherently being denied rights available to others. I really think a law like this could actually be struck down in the Supreme Court. (Am I too optimistic?)

Well, California is working on that, but no other states that have enshrined their homophobia within their Constitution have had their amendments overturned.

[adamgreer]

Not to fret, fellow gays! We have our fierce advocate in the White House, out there fiercely advocating on our behalf!

[PalJoey]

Thank you to the 39 percent of Tar Heels who have love not hate in their hearts.

The constitutional amendments have passed in 34 hateful states. In fact, no state that had put the matter to the vote has ever defeated it.

Next up are Washington, Maryland, Maine and Minnesota.

There is hope for Washington and Maine.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

16 to go!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Gay Rights in the US - State by State

[orangeskittles]

PalJoey, 51% of Marylanders support gay marriage in recent polls. So not hopeless unless supporters from other states (like NY?) ignore the fight and leave Maryland to our own devices while NOM, the Mormons and the Catholic Church throws their national budgets behind the hate campaign.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Well, remember a few years ago before the Prop 8 vote, how everyone kept parroting, "Where California goes, so goes the nation"? Turns out they were right.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Good Lord, if I hear one more bible thumping bigot on the morning news justifying their hate as trying to "protect the sanctity of marriage"......

[PalJoey]

Hope for North Carolina LGBT people, beyond Amendment One, starting this morning: the "We Do" campaign.

http://youtu.be/7r9Ob0QJ0_I

[tazber]

F*ck NC and their backwater inbred attitude.

wonder what the divorce rate is there, since you know marriage is so sacred and all.

[PalJoey]

Remember: 40% of North Carolina voted against the measure.

[adamgreer]

Good Lord, if I hear one more bible thumping bigot on the morning news justifying their hate as trying to "protect the sanctity of marriage"......

I actually turned off NPR this morning for that very reason. Some hateful woman was going on about how "North Carolinians wanted to preserve the biblical meaning of marriage for future generations."

[madbrian]

I wonder what impact this will have on our fearful leader. The consensus in the world of punditry is that Obama's 'evolution' regarding marriage equality is guided solely by the polls in some of the battleground states, and NC is definitely on that list. He only won NC by about 14k votes in 2008, and it's no coincidence that the Dem convention is in Charlotte.

I hope he has the courage in himself and in the electorate to finish his evolution and take a public stand in support of marriage equality. He's the greatest public speaker in a generation (at least), and he has the ability to sway minds with his rhetorical skills. Imagine the good he could do if he chose to make one of his trademark compelling speeches on marriage equality. But I'm not holding my breath.

[violet72]

If they really want to "protect the sanctity of marriage" why not then make divorce illegal? Oh that's right cause half of them get divorced and that would take away their rights

[michellek45]

madbrain, did you see the backtracking Joe Biden's team made him do after what he said about gay marriage yesterday? It does not make me hopeful that Obama will be coming out with anything more than his usual vague support in the coming months.

[Brian07663NJ]

Been searching like crazy for the exact quote and the name of the A$$ that said it but his point was that protecting marriage between a man and a woman guarantees that children will have a mother and a father. I was SO angry with that comment I closed the window and now I cannot find the information. I forget which website I was reading.

Just because a male/female are married AND they have a child does NOT mean that either of them deserve the title of mother OR father. Those titles are earned by the time, love and committment made to the child(ren).

These f-ing A$$ wipes have their heads so far up where the sun doesn't shine that they are idiots.

Also - IF marriage is being "protected" for pro-creation purposes...then if a male/female couple has NO intention of having children then don't they fall outside of the conservative definition of marriage and should be denied the right to marry?

[Roscoe]

Bigotry wins. Again. A shame. And it will continue to do so in way too many locations. Including the White House.

[tazber]

But at least you CAN still marry your cousin in NC.


Link

[Eris0303]

I saw someone on twitter saying that it's not their vote because they didn't vote. Um, no. It is your fault. Not voting is just as bad or worse than voting for Amendment 1. The only excuse for not voting is being under 18. And even then you can still be involved in some way.

And looking at the page with gay rights state by state I'm actually pleased to see that NJ isn't as far behind as one may think. Once we get a better governor we'll have marriage.

btw, taz....LOVE your picture. Trying to add a new member to the family soon.

[tazber]

Thanks Eris! He's got those big ol' cat eyes.

Good luck with the new addition!

[PalJoey]

Ari Ezra Waldman on Towleroad gives some great insight into what happened in North Carolina:
Towleroad: THREE LESSONS FROM NORTH CAROLINA'S AMENDMENT ONE

[AnthVoice2010]

I've given some thought to the North Carolina thing and have come up with this:

Working daily within Rockefeller Center, I come into contact with tourists anytime I leave my building. I will assume some are from North Carolina. I've watched them walk into poles because they can't stop looking up. I've watched them be terrified of a revolving door because, simply put, they had never used one before. I have listened to them as they stand on the TKTS line for hours only to buy a ticket to "Phantom" or "Chicago" because that's all they know (or want to know). I have seen them jump at any semi-loud sound.

On the other hand, I have also watched tourists cry because the level of noise and crowds were overwhelming to them. I have also seen tourists engaging the homeless in conversation. I have personally experienced a level of gratitude unheard of in this town for just answering a simple question. I have also watched their faces when they leave a great Broadway show or Opera. They literally shine with the experience.

What I am getting at is you can't expect a level of sophistication and gravitas from people who walk into poles or ask if "Cats" is still running on Broadway. What you can expect, is that little by little, they'll get there. Little by little, they'll learn. Little by little, they stop being afraid.

And so will North Carolina.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Maybe California will, too!