Letter writer: Sign petition to repeal ‘marriage amendment’

Graphic by Lori Deaton

Given the recent Supreme Court ruling, there is now no legal, ethical or political reason [that] Article 14, Section 6, of the North Carolina Constitution, the so-called “marriage amendment,” should exist anymore. A new petition on www.TearDownThisLaw.org calls for a November 2016 referendum to remove this already-antiquated law.

The amendment — badly worded, hurtful and ultimately fruitless — foolishly tried to make gay marriage “triply illegal” despite the fact that the Defense of Marriage Act was about to go before the Supreme Court. The DOMA ruling, as expected, basically forced states to recognize gay marriages from other states. The first gay wedding on a military base in this state alone would’ve doomed this amendment. Leaders knew no matter the DOMA ruling, there was no need for this amendment. Remember, it only passed the state Senate by one vote.

“Pride goes before a fall.” The Republican Party would be extremely arrogant and foolish not to acquiesce, acknowledge defeat and get this on the November 2016 ballot. Mitt Romney only defeated Barack Obama in this state by 2 percent in 2012. Had the “marriage amendment” been on that ballot, it would surely have been defeated.

If Hillary Clinton (the expected Democratic nominee) were to win this state, there is no scenario in which the Republicans can win the White House. Are Republican leaders so arrogant that they will give Hillary a hand-wrapped issue to exploit?  Two percent is nothing to catch up. It will not matter that the Democrats ran this state for “forever and a day” and did not legalize gay marriage. Will not matter Hillary hasn’t always been pro-LGBT either. This amendment is an albatross, the “ruptured appendix in the elephant.”

There is no place in the North Carolina Constitution for outmoded legacy laws. Please go to TearDownThisLaw.org and sign the petition. Let’s unite for a change.

— Rev. Dennis Justice
Former President of the Henderson County Republican Men’s Club
Fletcher

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7 thoughts on “Letter writer: Sign petition to repeal ‘marriage amendment’

  1. Mark Wayne

    For a minister to state it is OK for gays to marriage is a sin in itself. Gay marriage is against the word of Almighty God. SCOTUS did not follow the law with their ruling but interpreted it. They caved to a minority and our sicko President that is not a Christian. The republicans can win this state and the White House without changing God’s law and the U.S. Constitution.I wonder what church this man preaches at. Churches that have changed their standards are in trouble right now. Gay marriage will NEVER be acceptable to the one and only true God. Living in Liberal anything goes Asheville, does not mean everyone accepts the gay liberal minority views.

  2. Solutionist

    Civil unions are the answer. Civil unions for everyone, marriage saved for the happy couple’s church practice.

    • bsummers

      Homophobes will never allow it. Equality is not enough. Gotta use the power of gubmint to keep themselves elevated over those they fear and misunderstand, and that means denying them some rights. It’s the RickyBobby™ mentality: if someone else isn’t losing, you aren’t winning.

  3. ApePeeD

    Marriage in general is dying. Gay marriage is a last-ditch effort to save a dying relic.

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