Originally published: Feb. 22, 2011, 5:49 p.m.
Updated: Feb. 22, 2011, 8:17 p.m.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Gaston County Sen. James Forrester filed on Tuesday his anti-LGBT constitutional amendment on marriage.
The text of the proposed amendment, which has not yet been filed in the House, would ban any recognition of any “domestic legal union” other than a marriage between an opposite-sex couple. If approved by the legislature, the amendment would appear on the November 2012 ballot. Three-fifths of both the House and Senate must approve the amendment before it can appear on the ballot; the governor has no veto authority on amendments.
Forrester, a Republican who has been the primary lead on the amendment for the past seven years, was joined in sponsoring the legislation by Jerry W. Tillman (R-Montgomery, Randolph) and Dan Soucek (R-Alexander, Ashe, Watauga, Wilkes). Twenty other senators, all Republican, are co-sponsoring the bill. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Guilford, Rockingham) did not sponsor the amendment.
Palmquist said a companion bill was expected in the House, though he had no definitive timeline.
This is a developing story: Stay tuned to goqnotes-launch2.newspackstaging.com for more information as it becomes available.
so where/when do we start our campaign against this bill?????????????????????
So NC wants to vote on marriage? Jeez, find another issue to focus on: jobs, education, bail outs for Wall St hucksters, rabid US militarism and its costs…I dare you NC.
Cheers, Joe Mustich, CT Justice of the Peace,
Washington Green, CT USA.
CT passed a civil union law in 2005 and a marriage equality law in 2005, and we’re the land of the Puritans, but we grew up, and so can NC.
Marriage is a civil and contractual matter, licenses come from town hall not church hall, or mosques or temples in America. Thank God.
SNT,
At a very minimum, please pay attention to Equality NC. They’ve been fighting the marriage amendment for years, and have continued that fight this year.
They’ve already held one lobby day (earlier than usual). Their legislative contact campaign (email/phone/letter/etc.) has been active for weeks.
I know you’re aware of these happenings because you complain about them and then somehow find an excuse not to go or participate.
If you want to start your own campaign, no one is stopping you.
Otherwise, you still have the option to participate in existing efforts.
For others reading this, I urge you stay in contact with updates from Equality NC (www.equalitync.org). They have a Facebook page, Twitter account and email alert system.
As always, be in regular contact with your own legislators about all issues including LGBT issues. They need to hear from people IN THEIR DISTRICTS.
Find your legislator at (www.ncleg.net).
@Appellation… I’m starting to think that SNT and other “gay” bloggers like him are just anti-gay trolls in sheep’s clothing out to distract gay folks, cause divisions and sow distrust among our community.
@OMW…I’ve often had the same thought, and I try to engage him in a limited manner, yet appropriately so that the lurkers reading the comments get some positive info.
I heard that Oscar Meyer and Appellation roast their weenies together.
How paranoid can you get?
@OMW @Appellation thanks alot, all i did was ask when do we start a louder campaign, yet you two hacks then this all about me.. I’n not a troll, first off i have been with my partner for will this August 17 years.. how about your relationship.
It will take more then just writing to our rep’s,, if your rep’s is one of those that co-sign, they won’t care what you have to say in your emails, or letters.. More direct action will now be needed.
As for equality nc they were told that this was going this year..
@kit – you definitely don’t know who SNT is if you’re defending him.
@SNT – troll is defined by wikipedia as “someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.”
That is DEFINITELY you. All you. Why deny it? Be proud of it. Own it. Because, after all, we wouldn’t want to see you going wah wah wah cry cry cry about how people are attacking you. Playing the victim card isn’t cool, remember?
@OMW if I’m a troll then WTF are you, since you are doing the exactly the same. attacking Kit and trying to get an emotional response from me…
@SNT – Victim card. Victim card. And I quote: “I support my community, However I don’t support the Bullshit within it. Stop playing the Victim card”
I noticed however that you changed that. I guess you figured you wanted to play the victim after bitching abotu other people right?
SNT, your pathetic. Go away.
@OWM i well i guess you are getting emotional, I guess it your time of the month.. maybe you are be dump again..
I have no problem being call those names that we all hate in this community, I got over that in High school.
So if you have any more vile that you want to sling i on twitter and FB. Where we trash each without bring Q-notes into it.
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Weiner, you have given me the biggest laugh I’ve had in ages and ages. Thank you! Thank you so much!
I case your tired euthanized ass hasn’t realized it. Sometimes people have different opinions about the same topic and direction that you have. They also express themselves in more creative and emotional ways. I gues what I’m trying to say nicely is.
Screw you!
ok why dont we make it where no one can ever get a divorce how would that go over dont think so
Aside from the fact that I’ll have to leave my home state one day if this passes, what depresses me the most is that this man is from one county over. I went to school there from first grade until right now, as I’m on track to graduate college. I always knew that the residents of Gaston county were a bit less progressive than many here in Mecklemburg, but I didn’t realize how out of touch with reality they were and how desperately off they were in their priorities.