Actual Facts About Amendment One

I had mentioned in some prior Facebook posts that I had planned to blog about this issue. I wished I had done so earlier, but school and work have definitely limited my time. However, the election is this Tuesday and I need to get this off my chest.

First, as the title suggests, I'll state the real facts about Amendment One and the concept of same-sex marriage in general. Then I might rant a little, we'll see. First, just the facts...

1. There is already a statute on the books in North Carolina that prevents gay marriage. This amendment is unnecessary.
2. Most of the people polled who support Amendment One are unaware of fact #1.
3. Amendment One is so unique, there's no category for it in the constitution (ie. there is nothing regarding marriage today in it), so it will have to be placed in the "miscellaneous" section.
4. Domestic partners (a common term for insurance benefits) of public employees are virtually guaranteed to lose their benefits if Amendment One passes.
5. Amendment One is worded very poorly, and there is no case law whatsoever in NC to deal with the term "domestic legal union".
6. Amendment One does absolutely nothing to protect heterosexual marriage.
7. Adoption of Amendment One would force another constitutional amendment to even allow civil unions in this state.
8. Approving Amendment One would be the first time we've enshrined discrimination in our state constitution.
9. Opposing gay marriage is a surprisingly bi-partisan issue. A significant percentage of African-American and Latino Democrats support Amendment One.

I have to admit, #9 is the one that annoys me the most. In a country that fought a civil war over rights for people who had no control over their race, some descendants of those those same people would enshrine discrimination into our state constitution against a class of people who have no choice over their sexual orientation.

The Bible is irrelevant in this discussion. Last I checked, most of the laws of Leviticus aren't in the NC constitution either (thankfully). Slavery is also legal and supported in both New and Old Testament. Where's the moral outrage there? Here is a terrific breakdown of the trouble opponents of gay marriage have with respect to the bible. (note: the first link is a trailer to a much longer version).

Gay marriage represents zero threat to traditional marriage. My wonderful marriage of 6 years will not be damaged one iota if some of my gay friends in NC are given a chance to commit to each other in a similar fashion.

Roy Cooper, the Attorney General of North Carolina, summed it up best. Amendment One is "unclear, unwise, and unnecessary."

I'll allow comments if people choose to do so. I merely ask that folks be respectful and address the argument at hand, not the people making them. I said nothing about the folks who support this awful amendment, I hope others will do the same.