Saying, “Gay and lesbian North Carolinians work hard, contribute to society, and want to protect their families like everyone else,” the co-founder of Facebook and a native of Hickory has, in an open letter, urged the N.C. General Assembly to reject a same-sex marriage amendment currently under consideration.
Chris Hughes and his fiancé, political activist and philanthropist Sean Eldridge, have pledged to donate $10 for each person who “likes” Equality NC’s page on Facebook – up to $10,000 – between now and Tuesday.
Hughes writes, “In short, this amendment is bad for business, bad for the perception of my home state on the national stage, and a far cry from job-creating legislation that North Carolina lawmakers should be focused on.”
The Equality NC page referencing Hughes’ letter is here.
Hughes’ open letter to the North Carolina General Assembly, dated Sept. 9, 2011, follows:
I’m writing today to express my deep concern and fervent opposition to the proposed anti-gay constitutional amendment, SB106/HB777. As the co-founder of Facebook, I have some experience with the challenges of attracting the kind of driven, dynamic and diverse employees it takes to build a fledgling start-up into a fullfledged economic success story.
Companies like Facebook, Google and Apple are the future of our global economy. But the proposed anti-gay constitutional amendment signals to these and other major employers, as
well as their mobile, educated employees, that North Carolina does not welcome the diverse workforce that any state needs to compete in the international marketplace.In short, this amendment is bad for business, bad for the perception of my home state on the national stage, and a far cry from job-creating legislation that North Carolina lawmakers should be focused on.
But the negative business impact is far from the only harm of this amendment. Growing up in a conservative atmosphere in Hickory, North Carolina, I felt first-hand the stigma of being different in a Southern state—a feeling that made it clear to me that I was not welcome in North Carolina.
The proposed discriminatory legislation will only perpetuate this stigma for a new generation of creative, talented youth, uninterested in second-class citizenship in a state they call home. Gay and lesbian North Carolinians work hard, contribute to society, and want to protect their families like everyone else. Their families deserve the same respect and the same treatment as
everyone else, and they should not be exposed to the derogatory and harmful anti-gay rhetoric that inevitability accompanies these kinds of campaigns. North Carolina deserves better than
that.The next Facebook or Apple or Google could be created by another North Carolinian. Be mindful of how you treat them and their families.
— Chris Hughes, co-founder of Facebook and North Carolina native
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The letter concludes with a postscript: “Because there could not be a more critical time to support the work of Equality NC, my fiancé, Sean Eldridge, and I have pledged to donate $10 for each person who likes Equality NC’s page on Facebook – up to $10,000 – to support the work of the organization between now and Tuesday. We hope that others will join us and contribute what they can of their time, energy, and resources to help defeat this anti-gay measure.”
This is the very thing that is tearing our country apart…unless we start standing on the Bible and turn back to God this nation will fall. People need to stand for what is right and stop knuckling under to this gay agenda….What does gay rights have to do with job oportunities…nothing..but the gays want to use every excuse they can find to push their agenda…Yes we need this anti-gay marriage bill to pass…God created Adan and Eve..not Adam and Steve….You might not like hearing this but somebody needs to stand up in Washington for the Bible !!!!!
Right on, well constructed, and it makes sense.
Awesome.
Anti-gays of today are like the anti-civil-rights activists of yesterday…
[b]somebody needs to stand up in Washington for the Bible[/b]
Why does the MX print such obviously trolling comments? I it a way to generate more page views?
Yes, just look at all of the other successful countries which base their laws on the Bible, such as…………………………………
C Abel has doubtless struggled long and hard to maintain a heterosexual lifestyle, and his tireless efforts should be applauded.
Religion is the main cause for the problems of this country and the world … my god is better than your god stuff. People reading made up stories about how to live your life … use common sense and allow people to live their lives … what harm do they cause you? Think for yourselves … I thought god gave you a free will??