Senate Bill 1608: Anti-LGBT, Anti-Marraige Constitutional Amendment

• Bill Number: Senate Bill 1608
  
• Bill Status: Referred to Committee on Ways & Means
  
• Bill Link: Check Bill Status and Read/Download Bill Text
• Related Bills:
  
• ENC Position: Equality NC opposes this bill.

Bill Summary

Introduced on May 15, 2008 by Sen. James Forrester (R-Gaston), Senate Bill 1608, so-called "Defense of Marriage", would not only deny equal marriage rights, which are already denied lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender North Carolinians, but would also prohibit any recognition of civil unions, domestic partnerships, or similar relationships in the state. The language of the bill is so broad it could prevent private companies from extending domestic partner benefits to their employees.

Sen. Forrester introduced similar bills in the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 sessions, which Equality NC successfully worked to block.

In order to become law, the bill would need to pass both the House and Senate with at 3/5 margin, and be approved my a majority of voters on the November 2007 ballot.

Sponsors

Forrester (R) (Primary)
Allran (R)
Apodoca (R)
Berger, P. (R)
Bingham (R)
Blake (R)
Brock (R)
Brown (R)
Brunsetter (R)
Goodall (R)
Hartsell (R)
Hoyle (D)
Hunt (R)
Jacumin (R)
Pittenger (R)
Preston (R)
Smith (R)
Snow (D)
Tillman (R)