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No Discrimination in the Constitution
Take action now to help us keep discrimination out of our state constitution.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , Please oppose the anti-gay state constitutional amendment, Senate Bill 1228/House Bill 2438. Proponents of this amendment claim this is about protecting marriage. In fact, it is about writing discrimination into our state constitution. Same-sex marriages are already denied recognition under state law and the conservative North Carolina courts are not likely to overrule that. The proposed amendment goes much further than addressing marriage, though. It would deny recognition or protections of any sort for loving, committed same-sex couples. In fact, the bill is so broad it could prevent private companies from offering partner health benefits, as many of our largest employers do. We've also seen the unintended consequences amendments like this have had for opposite-sex couples in other states and we don't need those problems here. Please take a stand against this amendment. Vote no on Senate Bill 1228/House Bill 2438 and any similar amendment brought forward during the 2006 legislative session. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely, |
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| Background Information |
On the first day of the 2006 session, Sen. James Forrester and 18 other Republican members of the Senate introduced Senate Bill 1228, which would amend the state constitution to discriminate against same-sex couples.
Later, 56 Representatives filed a similar bill, House Bill 2438.
Far right legislators are pushing to pass an anti-LGBT, anti-marriage state constitutional amendment in the next two months. Equality NC and our allies prevented this amendment from passing in 2004 and 2005, but we have to fight hard to stop it again this year.
If passed, the amendment would not only elevate the discriminatory ban on same-sex marriage to the state constitution, it would prohibit any recognition of same-sex partners in North Carolina. In fact, the language of the amendment is so broad it could prevent private companies from offering domestic partner health benefits.
In order to become law, the amendment must pass both houses of the legislature with a 3/5 majority and be approved by a simple majority of voters on the November 2006 ballot.
Take action now to help us keep discrimination out of our state constitution.
