Marriage Rally against HB77 and SB106

Later this amendment was rename to SB514, The “Anti-LGBT Amendment”

The newest version of the amendment, SB 514, moves the ballot date from November 2012 to May 2012. The new bill also retains problematic language from the older Senate version, defining opposite-sex marriage as the state’s “only domestic legal union,” but adds, ”This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts.”

Can you believe it, NOM is coming to Town

Yes, they are coming to town, well they coming to Raleigh, NC on the 10th of August. They will be set up on the south side of Capital Building..

From Ms R Mann of ENC

"There are several individuals and groups organizing NOM counter-protests (links to their pages below). ENC will have a "truth squad" there to speak with media, but otherwise is directing people to the grassroots efforts that others have put together.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134847853203064
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=132425433461728
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140147449338024
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144354515578400

By all reports their tour isn't going too well the most they have had is 54, however going by Brian and Maggie their rallies had over hundreds.

I have been told one of the above events creator has a permit to counter protest, so we shouldn't run into any problems there..

So if you are free and able to attend this please do so. We must drown them out, and Show that LGBT's of the Carolinian's are united in this cause. That we will not take their Homophobia setting down. We will no-longer stand on the side lines while they try to walk all over us..

Letter: Same-sex marriage an equal rights issue

This is from the Reflector Greenville's Newspaper

Thursday, August 27, 2009

My concern on the same-sex marriage issue is the separation of church and state. Whether a religion allows or disallows same-sex marriage in the realm of its religious authority is appropriate. However, the states' laws, including those on marriage, should be based on the rights of and fairness to all citizens without consideration for any lawmaker's religious affiliation or beliefs.

To address a comment in the Aug. 3 Public Forum about the unfairness if same-sex marriage is legalized and the fact that common-law marriage is not recognized in North Carolina, that brings up a good point.

Cohabitating heterosexual couples who have not married are making that choice. Same-sex partners don't have that same choice.

It perplexes me that many people seem obsessed with the sex lives of others who they perceive to be homosexual. I say, “It's none of your business.” Gay people are not to be pitied, rescued or cured. Homosexuality is not a disease or a choice, and sexual orientation is not a so-called “lifestyle.” Simply put, sexual orientation (homosexual or heterosexual) is just one part of who we are.

Some people may be surprised to know that gay people live what most of us would consider normal lives. What's unfair is that many must vigilantly hide their private lives for fear of job loss, discrimination, being shunned or even being physically harmed.

For those who choose to be judgmental and to quote the Bible, the Aug. 12 and Aug. 13 Public Forum letters are well stated. Bravo.

Two consenting adults who love each other and who commit to a life together should have the right to a legal marriage with all the same benefits and responsibilities of that contract. Equal rights is indeed the issue.

ANN ECKERe_SFlbWinterville

Please goto this site and leave you comments..

Marriage Equality comes to Durham

From Pam's Houseblend,

I am very proud of my hometown tonight after attending the Durham (NC) City Council meeting where a resolution supporting civil marriage equality for same-sex couples was passed unanimously. Mayor Bill Bell and council members affirmed marriage equality. While NC does not allow gay and lesbian couples to marry, it is heartening to have the support of the Bull City (our state legislature has also turned away, for the sixth time, a state marriage amendment).

This is one reason why we need to set a community center or start a community group, so we can work with Greenville City Council and County Commissioners Office, to help promote LGBT Equality with in Pitt County and all other Counties in the Eastern Part of NC, even in Rocky Mount, and Wilson.

Yes, this may not directly affect the State Law Denying us the right to Marry, but it does tell our Law Makers that we have support within our Cities.

Anti Same-Sex Marriage Resolution Appears Dead

Reporter: Heather King

A resolution against same-sex marriage appears dead in Pitt County.

Eight protesters showed up at the county commissioners meeting after one commissioner proposed the resolution last month.

During a public comment period, two people spoke out against the resolution, while two others spoke in favor.

Afterward commissioner David Hammond would not talk about his proposal, but several other commissioners told WITN they probably would not bring up the matter again.

Protesters are planning to take the controversial issue of same-sex marriage to the streets of Greenville Monday morning.

The Pitt County Board of Commissioners is considering a resolution to formally oppose same-sex marriage. In response, gay rights advocates are planning to protest Monday morning's Pitt County Commissioner's meeting. However, the protest will start on the streets of Greenville. Six or seven people stated a small protest at the corner of Red Banks Rd. and Greenville Blvd. early Monday morning. Organizers expected the crowd to be larger at the 9 a.m. commissioner's meeting.

Pitt County Commissioner David Harmond is proposing the resolution. "I just wanted to be one of the people to go on record to say, that I'm asking not only our board, but the other 99 counties to oppose it whole-heartedly. I think marriage should be between a man and a woman," said Hammond to WITN in a recent interview.

Joseph Dawson, a Pitt County resident opposed to the resolution says there are more important issues the elected leaders should focus on. "There are so many other issues our state is dealing with. With our economy and financially, we should put our focuses on things that matter right now. A resolution for or against same sex marriage isn't going to help anyone if they can't hold or keep a job," Dawson said.

Make sure you read the comments, very interesting, it show what type of people we are dealing with.

Pitt County Board of Commissioners Protest for Gay Rights

Pitt County Board of Commissioners Protest for Gay Rights

"We believe in separation of Church and State"

Host:	Randy Allen Toler
Type:	Causes - Protest
Network:	Global

Date:	Monday, July 13, 2009
Time:	9:00am - 11:00am
Location:	City Hall
City/Town:	Greenville, NC

Phone:	2523677125
Email:	rat0917@ecu.edu

Description

On Monday, June 29th 2009 at a meeting of the Pitt County Board of Commissioners, the Rev. David Hammond (District 1 - Greenville) urged fellow Board members to adopt a resolution opposing same-sex marriage. If passed, the issue could go to voters in November. Rev. Hammond has begun vigorously drumming up anti-LGBT support and it is our duty to show the other side of the "spectrum". I will be standing outside the next Commissioners Meeting with signs (silent protest) and I need some people to be there with me. It is at 9am on Monday, July 13th. Anyone who is free for the hour that morning is welcome to come take a stand with me...my last visibility protest (Prop. 8 protest on Greenville Blvd.) was very successful a few months ago and I think this is the best time to do it again!

The Decision on PROP 8 in CA

Wow the Time as come finally to find out one way or another.. Will our Communities in CA and across the US be ready for this Decision?

The California Supreme Court has announced that it will issue an opinion in three cases challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8 at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2009. (Strauss v. Horton, S168047; Tyler v. State of California, S168066; City and County of San Francisco v. Horton, S168078.) Tuesday at 10 a.m., the opinion will be available on the California Courts Web site at this link: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/.

NC is Now in the Marriage Battle

Over at Pams and Matts blogs they have post

I knew it wouldn’t be long. North Carolina’s the only Southern state without an anti-gay, anti-family constitutional amendment on marriage. We’re a sitting duck; a big glaring hole in the religious right’s sea of hate and control… Just as in the image to the right, from the NC4Marriage website (PDF).

Those of us here in the newly Blue state of North Carolina knew all too well that when marriage amendments passed passed in California, Arizona and Florida that the fundies would start poking around to see where they could find fertile ground to stoke the fires of bigotry.

As the last state in the South without a marriage amendment, North Carolina is a prime target for rally the battle cry of anti-gay religious forces and scare a General Assembly full of legislators who don't want to discuss the issue. For five years the Dems have killed the bill in committee. If it were to make it to a floor vote it would pass because even many of the Dems haven't the spine to publicly oppose the amendment -- they were happy to see it die without debate. If the civil right of Tar Heel same-sex couples to marry were on the ballot it would likely pass.

North Carolina is the only state in the southern United States that has not protected marriage in its State Constitution, thus making us a target for same-sex "marriage." Without a provision in our State Constitution defining marriage as the union between only a man and a woman, any court in our State could redefine marriage by legalizing the union of same-sex couples.

We must protect marriage by convincing our legislators to pass a Marriage Protection Amendment bill that will allow the people of North Carolina to vote on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of only a man and a woman. But we need your help!

I have post an protest event on face book, It as a typo but for some reason I can change it, One of there network churches is have a huge event on 15 of this month, Yes I know its short notice but let show them that we will fight this in our own state as well. So visit and pass this event alone to everyone you know.Lets make this the first Protest against NC4Marriage http://www.facebook.com/editevent.php?eid=49706839646

On Sunday February 15, the largest Marriage Renewal in the history of Eastern North Carolina will take place in Rocky Mount at Englewood Baptist Church. The congregation, relatives and friends will witness as 193 couples, representing a combined total of 4,407 years of marriage, renew their wedding vows.

Let show them that we entitle to have the same rights as every other American has.

Lets not forget to add this to our list of things to do

NC4Marriage plans to bus in thousands for that event on March 3. These folks are organized, well-funded and now that the national anti-gay organizations have time on their hands (since the Batphone to the White House has been disconnected), they will no doubt be able to outspend and outgun pro-LGBT forces here. It will be interesting to see what happens, since I know many people here organized and donated to help fight amendments in other states. Will it be left to Tar Heels to fight this one alone since we're not one of the Big Blue states? My hope is that I don't have to answer this question if we can get our Dems in the GA to kill this bill again.