On May 8, 2012, North Carolina residents will vote for or against the North Carolina State Constitution Amendment One, which states that “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in the state.” The Vote Against Project and The Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families are two groups that have dedicated themselves towards defeating the amendment.
Amendment One has been called the same-sex marriage amendment, but same-sex couples shouldn’t be the only ones up in arms about it. The validity of straight civil unions is not included in this text and raises a lot of questions.
While gay couples have had to deal with the uncertainty that they will have access to the many rights that married couples have, it is now something that straight couples should start thinking about.
The executive board members of UNC Charlotte’s PRIDE had a lot to say on the subject. When asked if they saw this amendment as a threat to straight couples, the room responded with a unanimous “yes.”
The fact is that not everyone in this state is religious. That is why some committed couples opt to have civil unions instead of a marriage. What exactly is supposed to be accomplished by passing legislation that would only legitimize heterosexual marriages?
Even if the amendment was not passed, gay marriage would still remain unrecognized in this state, which prompts one to ask why this amendment is even being proposed at all.
What really gets me is every time someone supports this type of legislation they uses freedom as an excuse. They have a right to practice their religion. Somehow that equates to them being allowed to tell other consenting citizens how to live their lives.
Heterosexual marriage is legal and homosexual marriage is illegal in this state. How much more damage can the far right even do? Are they just going to come up with more laws that are against something that’s not even a threat to the well being of American citizens? Is this just an attempt to destroy any non-traditional families in the state?
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, North Carolina had approximately 22,000 unmarried couples that identified as gay or lesbian out of 222,000 unmarried couples. With the number of unmarried straight couples so high, why aren’t more people upset about this amendment?
While those in support of the amendment see this as a faith-based issue, it is also one that will inevitably affect the lives of unmarried couples and their children. Just to clarify, these religious groups are trying to protect family values while simultaneously threatening to take away healthcare benefits from unwed couples and their children.
On top of this, if someone in an unmarried partnership is abused by their significant other, they wouldn’t be able to press charges for domestic assault. Apparently that’s not a real family.
We just happen to be living in a time where the immediate reaction to the words “marriage” and “laws” is “gay marriage.” Somehow, Amendment One doesn’t seem to be on enough people’s radar, but this is something that the members of PRIDE are diligently working on.
The group has been organizing a number of on-campus activities to raise awareness of Amendment One before voting day. On April 18, there will be a rally at the Belk Tower from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Today they will be around campus surveying and educating students about the amendment. Wednesday will see a demonstration in the Student Union to prove to SGA President Dave Craven how many people are against the amendment. On Thursday the Student Senate voted to pass a resolution in opposition to Amendment One, so this time is crucial for all parties involved.