ABLWV urges Buncombe County commissioners to pass resolution opposing Amendment One

Here’s the message from the Asheville-Buncombe County League of Women Voters, sent via its email newsletter:

Hello League members!

We just wanted to take a moment to inform you that the League board has taken a position AGAINST Amendment One. You may read our statement to the press below, or you may view it online on the Mountain Xpress website here (http://mountainx.com/article/41827/Local-League-of-Women-Voters-opposes-Amendment-One?utm_source=League+of+Women+Voters+of+Asheville-Buncombe+County&utm_campaign=4de550868d-League_of_Women_Voters_Update4_4_2012&utm_medium=email)

Additionally, we would like to commend the Asheville City Council for unanimously voting to pass a resolution opposing Amendment One this month. You can read the full story about that resolution here (http://www.mountainx.com/article/41993/Council-unanimously-passes-resolution-opposing-Amendment-One?utm_source=League+of+Women+Voters+of+Asheville-Buncombe+County&utm_campaign=4de550868d-League_of_Women_Voters_Update4_4_2012&utm_medium=email)

The League urges Buncombe County Commission to pass a similar resolution before May 8th. We encourage all League members to contact their County Commissioners using this handy form to let the commissioners know that the League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County opposes Amendment One and encourages the Buncombe County Commission to pass a resolution opposing Amendment One before the election on May 8th.

Here is the official statement from the League:

League of Women Voters Joins Coalition
in Opposition to Amendment One

The Asheville-Buncombe County League of Women Voters has joined the Coalition to Protect ALL North Carolina Families, opposing Amendment One to the N.C. Constitution. The local organization will work actively against the amendment’s passage between now and the May 8 primary election.

“The League’s opposition is based on a national League position that such legislation would permanently write discrimination into the Constitution,” said Barbara Panarites, co-president of the local chapter.

The ballot wording calls for a “FOR” or “AGAINST” vote on the following: Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.

“The actual wording of the proposed amendment – and the full wording is not on the ballot – is expected to lead to extensive legal challenge,” Panarites said, noting passage of the amendment could affect the families of any unmarried partners, possibly halting health-care coverage for children or interfering with existing child-custody and visitation rights.

“The amendment’s passage would also directly affect local decisions,” added Panarites, pointing out that Asheville is one of five cities and three county governments in the state that currently grant domestic-partner benefits for staff members. The amendment would end such benefits on the part of local governments.

The local League becomes one of a large variety of faith-based, business-oriented, student-led, and community-centered organizations locally and statewide that are active in the Coalition to Protect All North Carolina Families.

Established in 1947, the LWV of Asheville has remained active in Buncombe County for more than sixty years. Its mission is to encourage citizen participation in the electoral process and in federal, state, and local government; to influence public policy through education and advocacy; and to secure public policies that promote member-based League positions. The League is a nonpartisan organization that welcomes both men and women of voting age to membership.

For more information about Amendment One, please visit protectallncfamilies.org. For more information about the LWV of Asheville and Buncombe County, visit the website atwww.ablwv.org.