(CNN) — A day after North Carolina became the latest state to approve a constitutional amendment defining marriage as solely between a man and a woman, opponents of the referendum begin Wednesday to explore their next options.
North Carolina voted Tuesday to outlaw same-sex marriage, which was already prohibited in the state. Supporters pushed for the constitutional amendment, arguing that it is needed to ward off future legal challenges.
“It is a very sad day in North Carolina,” said Tori Taylor, 23, a Charlotte resident who voted against the amendment. “There were a lot of college students, young professionals who came out to vote. We have gay friends. A lot of us are integrated to that culture. Do you think your friends should have the same rights? It’s black and white. Of course they should.”
The North Carolina amendment alters the constitution to say that “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized” in the state.
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Will Obama come out for gay marriage?“It writes discrimination into our state constitution and gives the majority the chance to vote against the minority,” said Anne Fawcett Krishnan, 33, of Greensboro.
But Vote for Marriage NC, which supported the amendment, applauded the passage, saying it solidifies the state ban and ensures the definition of marriage does not change.
“We are not anti-gay, we are pro-marriage,” said Tami Fitzgerald, chairwoman of the group. “And the point — the whole point — is simply that you don’t rewrite the nature of God’s design for marriage based on the demands of a group of adults.”
Experts expressed concerns that the language of the amendment is so vague, it could strip other unmarried couples of some rights as well.
It could affect unmarried couples who live together and bring them unintended consequences on issues such as child custody and the prosecution of domestic violence, said Kathryn Bradley, a law professor at Duke University.
It also strengthens the state’s position against same-sex civil unions, often considered a precursor to the marriage issue, Bradley said.
Some municipalities in North Carolina provide benefits to same-sex couples, and those rights could be lost with passage of the amendment, she said.
Opponents of the amendment regroup Wednesday to decide the next course of action, with some planning campaigns in cities across the state this week. The groups acknowledged the loss, but urged supporters to keep fighting.
“We can’t change the results of this vote, but we can determine what comes next,” said Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, director of Campaign for Southern Equality. “When kids across the state wake up, I want them to know that this story isn’t over.”
Campaign for Southern Equality said it will launch a “we do campaign to take action” Wednesday, with events planned across various cities all week. Another group, Equality North Carolina, plans to hold a news conference Wednesday to discuss the amendment.
But its backers said they are not deterred.
“Despite the relentless lawsuits and attempts to marginalize supporters of traditional marriage, a clear majority of the American people have not given up on standing in support of marriage,” said Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council. “But instead, the evidence suggests they want to see it strengthened and preserved for future generations.”
Voters approved the amendment by a 61%-39% margin with all counties reporting, according to unofficial returns from the State Board of Elections.
The state House and Senate voted in 2011 to put the amendment before state voters. Both chambers are Republican-controlled for the first time in 140 years.
President Barack Obama said he was “disappointed” by the vote, describing it as discriminatory against gays and lesbians, a spokesman said.
Americans overall are closely split on the issue, according to a recent Gallup survey. About 50% of Americans believe same-sex couples should be allowed to wed — up considerably from polls in past years. An additional 48% say such marriages should not be legal.
Before Tuesday, 30 states had voted in favor of constitutional amendments that seek to defend traditional definitions of marriage as a heterosexual union.
“Of states without constitutional amendments on marriage, 45% (nine of 20) eventually recognize same-sex marriage, either by direct judicial decree, by legislative action, or by a ruling requiring that same-sex marriages from other states be treated as valid,” the National Organization for Marriage, which opposes same-sex marriages, said in a statement. “Among the 30 states with marriage amendments, none have been repealed.”
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and the District of Columbia issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
In February, Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire signed a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage beginning in June, but opponents there have pledged to block the bill and called for voters to decide the issue.
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley signed into law a bill that permits the state’s same-sex couples to wed as of January 1, 2013.
Source: CNN
May 9, 2012 at 9:00 am
In a reelection year it is time to make a few promises come true or at least talk like you wanna make some come true. Marriage between a man and woman is God’s law. That’s enough for me. Furthermore, the whole gay/lesbian argument IS NOT a civil rights issue. Not in my opinion. How folk choose to have sex is THEIR business and is not a cause for benefits or any other compensary purpose.
Nuff said.
May 10, 2012 at 12:00 am
Obama is a very intelligent man and so is the First lady. Remember, both are lawyers and they are both Harvard trained. So, the family is a powerhouse. Obama’s personal belief is still that marriage is between a man and a woman. But, he is clever enough to not let his religion interfere with politics. Its the most politically strategic thing to do (“come out” in favor of gay/lesbian marriage). Its a strategic approach by Obama to garner votes from lesbians and gays because they seem him as a “gay-friendly” president who is sensitive to their issues.
Gays and lesbians represent about 10 percent of the American voters out there. This doesn’t even account for those who are living their lives as heterosexual and “secretly” living double-lives (i.e., downlow men/discrete women) sleeping with other men and/or women, and who are sympathetic with gays/lesbians, but would never publicly admit to others as being labeled as gay or lesbian. Just like many men have sex with other men (especially in the black community) while in prison and would never tell a soul. And, who still engage in sex acts with the same sex while out of jail.
I’m a heterosexual female but when I was younger, I slept with girls before. So what, most of those I know have too or have tried in in some form or another. Generally speaking, most young people have experimented in some form or another with a member of the same sex. It isn’t even really a big issue to those born in or after the 80s, it seems like it is just more of an issue to past generations and Christian conservatives.
Bottom line, any injustice to one is an injustice to all. And, as blacks we need to be careful not to legislate hate. Glad that Obama doesn’t confuse religion with politics. By Obama coming out in support of gay marriage (even though he personally still doesn’t agree with it), I think is was a very strategic political move. Now, you’ll probably see all kinds of gay groups donating millions financially to Obama’s campaign.