Raleigh, N.C. – Voters in North Carolina passed Amendment 1 to the State Constitution which defines marriage as exclusively between 1 man and 1 woman. With 33 percent of the precincts reporting unofficial results show the measure passing 58% to 42%.
In the past two weeks North Carolina has become ground zero in the fight for Marriage Equality . Political superstars like Bill Clinton showed their support to the opposition to Amendment 1. Meanwhile dozens of high profile supporters turned out to ensure its passage with one State Senator’s wife telling poll workers the Amendment was necessary to protect the Caucasian Race
Even at 93 the Reverend Billy Graham came out to drum up support for the Amendment.
Both sides spent a combined $3 million on their campaigns.
What made the Amendment strange is that North Carolina banned gay marriage years ago. Supporters passed Amendment 1 to take away any and all benefits and potential recognitions for gay couples. Currently nine states ban gay marriage while six allow it.
Joe Easterling, who described himself as a devout Christian, voted for the amendment at a polling place in Wake Forest.
Easterling told the Huffington Post,
“I know that some people may argue that the Bible may not necessarily be applicable, or it should not be applicable, on such policy matters. But even looking at nature itself, procreation is impossible without a man and a woman. And because of those things, I think it is important that the state of North Carolina’s laws are compatible with the laws of nature but, more importantly, with the laws of God.”
Linda Toanone, who voted against the amendment, said people are born gay and it is not their choice.
She said,
“We think everybody should have the same rights as everyone else. If you’re gay, lesbian, straight – whatever. Also, that amendment is against women, I believe, because also underneath the amendment, other laws are saying that people who aren’t married at all, they can’t file for domestic abuse cases, if they’re living with their significant other. Which is wrong,”
President Obama has taken a strong stand for gay rights in America but has stopped short of endorsing Marriage Equality. This week his Education Secretary and Vice President Joe Biden came out in support of Gay marriage.
One fault line that could determine the result is generational. Older voters, who tend to be more reliable voters, are expected to back the amendment.
Amendment 1 goes far beyond any other state laws passed so far as it strips any type of domestic union from being recognized by the government for anything.
Both sides of the Amendment thought they had made great strides this week. Supporters were obviously right.
