Dozens of people rallied outside the state capital on August 10 to support a state constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman. The rally was one stop in a series of rallies taking place nationwide sponsored by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). The 20-stop tour is part of NOM’s "Summer for Marriage Tour 2010: One Man One Woman Rally" highlighting states without a marriage protection amendment.
NOM President Brian Brown was one of five speakers urging rally attendees to continue North Carolina’s fight for marriage. Participants also heard from Executive Director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina Rev. Mark Creech; NC4Marriage Executive Director Bill Brooks; Concerned Women for America of North Carolina Chapter Director Mary Frances Forrester; and Raleigh International Church Pastor Rev. Olden Thornton.
While each attendee varied in age and background, one thing was clear amongst participants: marriage is for one man and one woman. A sentiment echoed by each speaker.
Forrester emphasized that the fight for marriage is not about tolerance, but about protecting the next generation of children and the betterment of society. One rally attendee’s sign shared that opinion. Her neon pink sign read, "Marriage is for our children’s children."
Creech spoke to the crowd stressing that state polling, residents and voters support a constitutional amendment protecting marriage, why not our Legislature? He continued to explain that when citizens are allowed to vote on the definition of marriage, by constitutional amendment, they support marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
In fact, December 2009 polling by the Civitas Institute found that 73 percent of North Carolina voters support a constitutional amendment declaring that marriage is defined as one man and one woman. And marriage supporters continue to point out that North Carolina is the only state in the Southeast that has yet to vote on a state constitutional amendment defining marriage. Yet, despite voter and numerous states’ support, the North Carolina Legislature continues to sentence the Defense of Marriage Act to death by committee.
The rally, however, was not without its own counter-protest. Hundreds of gay activists gathered across the street chanting "Equality North Carolina" and "God is Love" to the sound of honking horns on busy Fayetteville Street.
While the NOM tour has a few stops left, including the final stop in Washington DC, Raleigh proved to be an exciting rally for supporters of a marriage protection amendment.
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