Advocates for allowing voters decide whether or not to amend North Carolina's constitution to define marriage as being between one man and one woman met in Raleigh at the legislature. Though the crowd was smaller than a similar rally last year, supporters of the amendment still turned out a large crowd despite the awful weather. Capitol Police estimated the crowd to be between 3,000 and 4,000 people.
A coalition of conservative and religious groups (including the Civitas Institute) have been bringing new attention to the effort through the group NC4Marriage.
Bills calling for the amendment to be voted on this fall have been filed in both houses. The House version has 66 sponsors, a bipartisan majority. The Senate version is also sponsored by a bipartisan group of
lawmakers but has already been assigned to the Senate Ways & Means committee that hasn't met since 2001. This committee is also know as "bill prison" where the leadership send bills to die.
Despite the legislative roadblocks, protecting marriage is widely supported by voters of both parties and races. The latest Civitas Poll found that 76% of North Carolina's voters want to protect marriage.
Looks to me like those powerful Democrats in control don’t want to vote on this social issue because they are afraid of upsetting their liberal base at home. I hope that they will stop being cowards and give the people what they want – a vote! All we’re asking for in this state is democracy and a republican form of government that works for its citizens – not for its own electoral success.
Seriously? A constitutional amendment?
What’s the point, exactly?
Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.
Why is this important enough to warrant a constitutional amendment? Why isn’t the state law sufficient?
It’s not going to keep people from being gay. It’s not going to stop your children from being exposed to the fact that there are gay people in the world.
Isn’t there a more constructive way to project religious and moral values on others?
The point is Mr. “Mac” for 5 years this bill has been sponsored by a majority of lawmakers and has been blocked by the leadership.
It will only take one liberal activist judge to create this new “right” and every neighboring state has not only allowed its people to vote on it but passed it as well.
That’s why the current state law is insufficient.