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Oct. T-14,2011. Vol 26, No 11. FUEE
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OF THE MAJORITY?
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Anti-gay Amendment One heads to May 2012 ballot
root
Equality North Carolina gears up campaign
against Amendment One
by Matt Comer matt@goqnotes.com
RALEIGH — Voters will head to the polls
on May 8,2012, to vote on an anti-LGBT
constitutional amendment that will ban
marriage, civil unions and domestic partner
ships for same-sex couples. The measure,
"Amendment One," could also have dire
consequences for scores of unmarried op
posite-sex couples.
The legislation putting the amendment
on the ballot was approved in less than 24
hours worth of consideration by members of
the North Carolina General Assembly. The
bill passed the House on Sept. 12 and gained
the slimmest three-fifths majority it needed
to pass the Senate on Sept. 13. Amendment
One opponents have criticized Republican
legislative leaders for the way in which they
handled the bill. For one, they say lead
ers silenced opposition and pushed the
amendment through the committee process
without any public input from citizens or
legal scholars.
"The second strategic mistake they
made was that it was so hastily and sloppily
written," said Equality North Carolina Interim
Executive Director Alex Miller. "They didn't
take the time to ensure what they were put
ting forward for inclusion in the constitution
is what will actually be put in front of voters."
The bill approved by the legislature
would amend the state constitution by add
ing, "Marriage between one man and one
woman is the only domestic legal union that
shall be valid or recognized in this State. This
section does not prohibit a private party from
entering into contracts with another private
party; nor does this section prohibit courts
from adjudicating the rights of private parties
pursuant to such contracts."
Yet, the question voters will consider
states simply, "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."
Miller said there are "real constitutional
questions" regarding the wording of the
amendment and the ballot question. The
issue was raised at a debate on Sept. 21 at
the University of North Carolina School of
Law between House Majority Leader Rep.
Paul Stam (R-Wake) and Rep. Rick Glazier
(D-Cumberland).
"Neither of them nor the professors pres
ent who are constitutional scholars could
answer the question," Miller said, indicating
he was not aware of any current legal chal
lenge to the amendment's wording.
At the center of debate is the amend
ment's phrase, "domestic legal union." Miller
and several constitutional law scholars have
said the phrase is too broad and vague.
"They passed an amendment that makes
invalid any legal recognition for any relation
besides a traditional man-woman marriage,"
Miller said. "This bill will affect same-sex
and opposite-sex couples, senior citizens
and domestic violence victims."
Advocates say Amendment One's broad
implications and consequences will mean
extra support in the nearly eight-month-long
campaign to defeat the measure at the polls.
Gearing up
Within days of the amendment's legisla
tive approval, citizens across the state took
to Facebook and Twitter to organize against
the ballot measure. Grassroots activists, too,
began getting their hands wet. In Boiling
Springs, N.C., friends began their "Neighbors
for Equality" campaign and others are
speaking out in their own, individual ways
(see story, page 11).
As of press time. Equality North Carolina
had yet to announce their formal campaign
against Amendment One. But, Miller said
planning was already underway and strate
gies being discussed and laid out.
"We're now in the process of creating
the campaign and it will happen over the
next several weeks," Miller said. "I can't
tell you when exactly, but I can say it is less
important for us to have a campaign logo
or slogan before we make sure we have a
strong campaign strategy."
Miller said the group's pre-existing
strategies had been structured for a ballot
referendum in a general election. Legislators
changed their plans and placed the amend
ment on May's primary ballot, instead. Miller
see Equality on 6
Youth: Amendment
sends bad message
Politically-active gay young people speak out
CHAPEL HILL—At just 22, Lee Storrow
hopes he'll become Chapel Hill's youngest
council member since then 21-year-old Mark
Chilton was elected to the body in 1991.
Storrow, who is openly gay, is a recent
graduate of the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill and the managing director
of the North Carolina Alliance for Health.
He also serves on the board of directors of
the American Legacy Foundation, a group
founded from the 1998 settlement with the
nation's major tobacco companies. He's
stressed public transportation, affordable
housing and expanding the town's tax base
as key issues in his campaign.
"There is a need to have someone on
council who is a coalition builder and who
will do the work to reach out to all residents,
particularly young people," Storrow said. "A
third of Chapel Hill's population is under 24
years old and without our voice at the table
we don't get policy solutions that are as best
for our town as they could be."
Storrow faces a crowded field in the
election this year, to be held on Nov. 8.
In the midst of his campaign for office,
Storrow was keenly aware of the legis
lative fight brewing over an anti-LGBT
constitutional amendment that seeks to
ban recognition of marriage, civil unions
and domestic partnerships for same-sex
couples. When lawmakers approved its
placement on a May 8,2012 primary ballot,
Storrow took pause.
see Amendment on 6
After nearly eight years of trying, anti-gay state Sen. James Forrester
(R-Gaston) has finally succeeded in gaining legislative approval for
his so-called Defense of Marriage amendment. It sparked protest
statewide when it was first introduced in 2004 at the height of
controversy surrounding a proposed anti-gay amendment to the
federal constitution. Above: On May 5,2004, former Metropolitan
Community Church of Charlotte Pastor Mick Hinson and partner
Greg were among those speaking out against Forrester's amendment.
They attempted to file for a marriage license in Mecklenburg
County and were denied. "There is not justice in the world
regarding [same-sex] relationships — period," Hinson said at the time.
— File Photo
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