Tomorrow North Carolinians will vote on Amendment One, the so-called gay state constitution marriage amendment. While the language of the amendment sounds straight-forward ("Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized by this State"), this amendment is more far-reaching than one would imagine from the wording.
ProtectAllNCFamilies.org spells out the unintended consequences of voting in this legislation. I won't try to repeat what they have said here, because I have other fish to fry with this, so I will just point you in their direction for that information.
I am ashamed that North Carolina, instead of following in the footsteps of more progressive and tolerant states who have legalized gay marriage, has chosen to discriminate against its gay citizens in so openly a fashion as this. Instead of rolling back the already existing law which prohibits gay marriage, North Carolina's Republicans have decided they want to double-down on their legalization of discrimination.
If you're voting for this amendment, shame on you. It is not appropriate to legislate discrimination against people because of the circumstances of their birth. If you're voting for it because of your religion, you should be doubly ashamed. Legislating your religious beliefs is for theocracies and the Taliban, not democracies where everyone should have equal rights. Everyone. You might want to look into what the Bible has to say about loving your neighbor. I seem to recall something in there about that.
If you live in North Carolina, how do you think companies are going to view such a state as a place to move its business if such a law is passed? Do you think outlawing gay marriage is going to be good for tourism? Or do you think it will make North Carolina look as backward, intolerant and discriminatory as, say, Mississippi?
Vote No tomorrow on Amendment One. Don't legislate discrimination and bigotry.
Monday, May 7, 2012
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