Marriage Discrimination Amendment Introduced in NC Senate

"At a time when North Carolina faces rising unemployment, a massive budget shortfall, and crumbling infrastructure, it is especially sad to see Sen. Forrester and other legislators focusing their efforts on diminishing the rights of their fellow citizens," said Ian Palmquist, Executive Director.

While supporters of the Marriage Discrimination Amendment claim this is just about marriage, the bill would in fact also prohibit any kind of civil union, domestic partnership, or other recognition for same-sex or unmarried opposite-sex couples.

"It is especially sad to see some faith leaders using religion as a justification for discrimination," said Palmquist. "Religion has been used to justify moral wrongs time and again throughout our nations past, and history does not kindly judge those who misuse faith in this way. They do not reprsent all people of faith and we are proud to know that many people of faith are standing with us for our shared values of justice and equality."

The inaccurately named "Defense of Marriage Act," Senate Bill 272, would add this sentence to the state constitution: "Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State." In order to become law, it would need to pass both chambers of the General Assembly by a three-fifths margin and receive the support of a majority of voters on the November 2009 ballot.

Equality North Carolina's professional lobbying team and grassroots activists are working to ensure legislators oppose this bill. People from across the state will attend Equality NC Day of Action in Raleigh on Tuesday, March 24 to share their opposition to this bill and support for equality and justice.