North Carolina voters cast ballots on same-sex marriage ban

[clobetasol]

The national debate over gay marriage is heating up in North Carolina where voters will cast their ballots Tuesday on a controversial constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman.
While the Tar Heel State already prohibits same-sex marriage, the proposal would go a step farther and not recognize any type of legal union between couples that aren't married, including civil unions and domestic partnerships.
Adding the ban to the state's constitution would also make it much harder to overturn in the future.
Critics say the law would jepoparize health insurance benefits for unmarried gay and straight couples, while proponents say it would preserve the traditional definition of marriage between a man and a woman.
Former President Bill Clinton urged voters in a robo-call this week to vote against the amendment, and President Obama's North Carolina spokesman has previously issued a statement saying Obama was against the measure.
"What it will change is North Carolina's ability to keep good businesses, attract new jobs, and attract and keep talented entrepreneurs," Clinton says in the call. "If it passes, your ability to keep those businesses, get those jobs, and get those talented entrepreneurs will be weakened."
Meanwhile, evangelist Billy Graham and former GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich have thrown their support behind the measure.
The proposal comes as President Obama is scrutinized for his stance on gay marriage after Vice President Joe Biden said Sunday that he was "absolutely comfortable" with it.
The President, who supports most gay rights, has stopped short of fully backing same-sex marriage, insisting his personal views on the issue were "evolving."
More than 500,000 voters had already cast absentee ballots.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/poli...#ixzz1uHyTT2MC

[Ragnus]

Wasn't this shit already declared unconstitutional when California did it? =(

[Apelila]

The NCA vote is being closely watched because the majority of the state opposes it, and it's in the south. It would herald a shift in the war on fabulous if it fails.

Also, the bill is terribly written and designed specifically to gut the rights of anyone who isn't papers signed federally married.

[Dantrag]

The NCA vote is being closely watched because the majority of the state opposes it, and it's in the south. It would herald a shift in the war on fabulous if it fails.

Also, the bill is terribly written and designed specifically to gut the rights of anyone who isn't papers signed federally married.

Polls speak differently so far here. We'll have to wait and see but I don't doubt at all that it'll be close. There are still a ton of super religious people here. But yeah, the wording on it is fucking horrible. Also there only seem to be about 5 counties that will vote no. But they're also the largest counties in the state.

[Cantih]

Wasn't this shit already declared unconstitutional when California did it? =(

Yes, but it's still in the trial/appeal process.
At the moment, the supporters of the ban are trying to get an en banc review as a tactic to delay the case getting to the Supreme Court. If they get it, we may not see it settled until 2013/2014.

[Pirian]

My FB has been blowing up all day with "vote against" stuff from friends. NC may have a bunch of rednecks, but NC turning blue for Obama showed that it does have a pretty sizable liberal population. I honestly can't see this passing

ps. voted against.

[Ragnus]

Yes, but it's still in the trial/appeal process.
At the moment, the supporters of the ban are trying to get an en banc review as a tactic to delay the case getting to the Supreme Court. If they get it, we may not see it settled until 2013/2014.

Wonderful...

[Pirian]

Looks like it somehow passed All hope lost. Fuck this state, I'm out of here.

[clobetasol]

Let's just hope the supreme court does not strike it down.

[Komm Suesser Tod]

Let's just hope the supreme court does not strike it down.

Yeah, why should people get their rights? Fuck them and their perfectly normal desires for a socially and legally recognized family!

[Correction]

Let's just hope the supreme court does not strike it down.

clobetasol
Banned.

At least something got struck down LOL

[WahiGuard]

clobetasol
Banned.

At least something got struck down LOL

But yet a homophobic slur is used in the avatar of banned members..

[Milkster]

The ironing.

[Correction]

But yet a homophobic slur is used in the avatar of banned members..

The mod who put that in place is not the same mod who bans for slurs.

[Yuri-G]

But yet a homophobic slur is used in the avatar of banned members..

I don't think it's meant to be homophobic. if it were, the avatar would be some big gay dude wearing rainbows and-

-oh.

Spoiler: show

but seriously, at least their hearts are in the right place.

[Apelila]

I'm guessing the Arizbortion thread got him.

Also, the ironing is steamy.

[Dantrag]

61% sheesh

[Cyn]

Fucking rednecks, they're why we can't have nice things around here.

[Xno Kappa]

No shit this was going to pass. I remember seeing a restaurant that literally had a sign saying "No Colors Allowed" out in front when I lived in NC. Keep my minority ass in New York when I retired.

[Cyn]

Yeah but it's kind of funny (in a sad way), like Pirian said, I literally have exactly 1 friend on FB who actually supported it and saw dozens of posts against it each day for the past several months.

Living in an actual city in the south is so strange because you get so used to being surrounded by more or less liberal minded people that you forget that most of the state you live in still hasn't found out that the Confederacy lost the war.

Edit: http://www.wral.com/news/political/page/10991843/

Wake, Durham, Orange, Mecklenburg and Buncombe. Pretty much what most people expected.