The Upcoming Vote on the Marriage Amendment in North Carolina

On May 8th, the voters of North Carolina will vote on the Defense of Marriage amendment to our state’s constitution defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

Today (March 15, 2012), groups opposing this amendment organized a protest at Halifax Mall in Raleigh, NC. Jen Jones is the communications’ director for Protect All NC Families. She states that this legislation will hurt children, women and senior citizens in North Carolina.

Eight universities are supporting the gay and lesbian cause in North Carolina as well as the cities of Greensboro, Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill according to Ms. Jones.  Here are a few common myths about the Marriage Amendment from NC Values Coalition:

Myth: “The Marriage Amendment will take away rights from gay and lesbian citizens.”

Truth: The Amendment Does Not Take Away Rights:

1. Gays and Lesbians have a right to live as they choose; they don’t have a right to redefine marriage for the rest of us.
2. Homosexual couples can still engage in private commitment ceremonies and engage in private adult consensual sexual conduct.
3. There is no right to marry someone of the same sex, just as there is no right to marry your sister, to marry someone who is under 14 years old, or to marry more than one person.

Myth: “The Marriage Amendment will prevent businesses from continuing to offer benefits to same-sex partners.”

Truth: The Amendment Does NOT Prevent Businesses from Offering Benefits to Same-Sex Partners:

1.  The Amendment will not prevent businesses that offer benefits to same-sex couples from continuing to offer those benefits—including health insurance. It has no legal impact on private businesses in any way.
2. Nothing in the Amendment prohibits local governments or the UNC System from offering or continuing to offer benefits to same-sex partners of employees or students, as long as they do not base it on a relationship like domestic partnerships or civil unions.
3. Constitutional protections for marriage will actually help businesses, because the choice to offer same-sex partner benefits can continue to be based on the businesses’ own decision framework, instead of being mandated by government.

Myth: “The Marriage Amendment will harm recruiting efforts of businesses.”

Truth: The Amendment Will Not Hurt Business Recruitment:

1. Passage of the Amendment will not keep the State from recruiting new businesses. Neither will the Amendment prevent companies in North Carolina from attracting the brightest and best workers. Companies located in states that have Constitutional Amendments defining marriage as between one man and one woman continue to attract talented workers and grow their businesses. Examples of such states are Virginia, South Carolina, and Texas.

2. North Carolina is consistently ranked as one of the top places in America to work, to do business, and to live. Our state marriage laws have not hampered those ratings one bit, but are in fact one of the very reasons that North Carolina is ranked so highly.

3. Protecting marriage will actually benefit business, because marriage produces a stable, productive, balanced workforce. Without procreation, economic growth is impossible.

More Myths…

Here is the legislation from the General Assembly:

Defense of Marriage

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE THAT MARRIAGE BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN IS THE ONLY DOMESTIC LEGALUNION THAT SHALL BE VALID OR RECOGNIZED IN THIS STATE.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. Article 14 of the North Carolina Constitution is amended by adding  the following new section:

“Sec. 6. Marriage.

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.”

SECTION 2. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at a statewide election to be held on the date of the first primary in 2012, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State.  Ballots, voting systems, or both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:

[ ] FOR    [ ] AGAINST

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.”

SECTION 3. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the amendment to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment so certified among the permanent records of that office.

SECTION 4. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act is effective upon certification.

SECTION 5. This act is effective when it becomes law.