Senate Bill 272
Just sent the following letter to my state senators:
Hello!
I'm writing with regards to the recently filed Senate Bill 272, which would define marriage as between one man and one woman. As one of your constituents, and a Democrat voter, I felt it was my duty to tell you that I think this is a terrible idea. Why in the world would we legislate bigotry? The only defense of this bill is an ecclesiastical intolerance of same-sex marriage, and last I checked, America is not a theocracy. Not only would this bill deny "one of the "basic civil rights of man," fundamental to our very existence and survival" (SCOTUS ruling on Loving v Virginia) to people based solely on their gender, but it would collide with the spirit of the SCOTUS ruling in Everson v. Board of Education, relevant part quoted:
"The "establishment of religion" clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the federal government can set up a church.Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance. No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect "a wall of separation between church and State.""
Is there some physical benefit that passing this bill would provide to North Carolinians? No - in fact, allowing for same-sex marriage would BENEFIT North Carolinians. Being one of the first states - and THE first in the New South - to allow it would cause a significant economic influx as same-sex couples hired our wedding planners, rented out our meeting spaces and other locations for ceremonies, and purchased other goods and services at our stores. For too long, the South has been defined by stubbornness and intolerance of difference in others, there is no reason to perpetuate this myth when we as a nation are moving forward.
Please vote AGAINST Bill 272. It serves only as a feel-good measure for hate and intolerance and a warning to progressive minds that North Carolina is not yet ready to enter the 21st century.
Respectfully,
Here's the bill: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=S272
Basically, not only would it define marriage as between one man and one woman, but it would also specify that one-man-one-woman is the only form of civil union or domestic partnership recognized in the state. Whaaaaaat.
If you live in NC, *please* give your state senator a holla. You can find out exactly who that is, and their email address, by plugging your ZIP code into the link above that goes to the bill.
Hello!
I'm writing with regards to the recently filed Senate Bill 272, which would define marriage as between one man and one woman. As one of your constituents, and a Democrat voter, I felt it was my duty to tell you that I think this is a terrible idea. Why in the world would we legislate bigotry? The only defense of this bill is an ecclesiastical intolerance of same-sex marriage, and last I checked, America is not a theocracy. Not only would this bill deny "one of the "basic civil rights of man," fundamental to our very existence and survival" (SCOTUS ruling on Loving v Virginia) to people based solely on their gender, but it would collide with the spirit of the SCOTUS ruling in Everson v. Board of Education, relevant part quoted:
"The "establishment of religion" clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the federal government can set up a church.Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance. No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect "a wall of separation between church and State.""
Is there some physical benefit that passing this bill would provide to North Carolinians? No - in fact, allowing for same-sex marriage would BENEFIT North Carolinians. Being one of the first states - and THE first in the New South - to allow it would cause a significant economic influx as same-sex couples hired our wedding planners, rented out our meeting spaces and other locations for ceremonies, and purchased other goods and services at our stores. For too long, the South has been defined by stubbornness and intolerance of difference in others, there is no reason to perpetuate this myth when we as a nation are moving forward.
Please vote AGAINST Bill 272. It serves only as a feel-good measure for hate and intolerance and a warning to progressive minds that North Carolina is not yet ready to enter the 21st century.
Respectfully,
Here's the bill: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009&BillID=S272
Basically, not only would it define marriage as between one man and one woman, but it would also specify that one-man-one-woman is the only form of civil union or domestic partnership recognized in the state. Whaaaaaat.
If you live in NC, *please* give your state senator a holla. You can find out exactly who that is, and their email address, by plugging your ZIP code into the link above that goes to the bill.