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The deluge of videos opposing Amendment One is quite astonishing — ones produced by the official campaign, and equally impressive are passionate and heartfelt ones done by those outside of the campaign, such as the homemade one by former WRAL-TV news reporter/anchor Pam Saulsby.
In just the last day or so, we have had more political figures step up to say why this amendment is wrong for North Carolina. Today U.S. Senator Kay Hagan (not known for stepping up publicly on LGBT issues when she ran for office), released this video:
The video represents the first time Sen. Hagan has appeared on camera to oppose Amendment One and follows a statement in February in which Hagan urged all North Carolinians to join her in opposing the upcoming state ballot measure.
“I do not believe we should amend our state’s constitution to take away people’s rights. Amendment One harms our resolve to make all people and all families great. “We have seen and heard from business leaders from across North Carolina who are worried about our ability to compete with states that are not passing such divisive amendments. In this competitive environment we simply cannot afford to pass Amendment One.”
Hagan’s concerns about Amendment One’s impact on North Carolina’s business interests and competitiveness comes the same week as the premiere of the WRAL documentary “The Amendment,” which was unable to find a single CEO who would speak in favor of the amendment. “We tried to find a CEO who supports Amendment One to interview. We worked with the two lead organizations campaigning for it, the North Carolina Family Policy Council and the North Carolina Values Coalition,” said WRAL’s David Crabtree. “They could not find a pro-amendment CEO willing to be interviewed for this documentary.”
Protect All NC Families underscored the importance of this statement against Amendment One from Sen. Hagan. “This powerful new video from our U.S. Senator reflects clearly all that’s at stake as voters consider Amendment One,” said Jeremy Kennedy, campaign manager for Protect All NC Families. “Those impacted by Amendment One are indeed our friends, neighbors and loved ones, and as people head to the polls this week, it is our hope that Sen. Hagan’s voice joins the rising chorus of trusted leaders who can inform North Carolinians’ votes against in the continuing effort to protect North Carolina families, children, business and the reputation of this state as whole.”
Governor Bev Perdue has also stepped up:
I love Rev. Barber. The NC NAACP is only the second chapter in the country to come out against a marriage discrimination amendment (the other was CA’s re: Prop 8). This is huge.
Rev. Dr. William Barber II describes how Amendment One is a deceptive, harmful amendment designed to codify hate into our constitution.
The impact on victims of domestic violence if Amendment One passes could be profound. It could take away domestic violence protections for all unmarried women; Domestic violence protections could only apply to married couples. In Ohio, where a similar amendment passed, this loophole has allowed convictions to be overturned. One local filmmaker, Frank Eaton (@bullydoc), created this dramatic video that should circulate widely – “The Law of Unintended Consequences“:
15 Comments
Thats a cover story she is worried about being elected.
I do find it surprising that she would take a pro stand on LGBT issues if Southern Politicians can find the Spine to do that then support for LGBT issues must be stronger than we think.
What do we know about her is she doing this because there is support for LGBT issues more than we think or does she have a Spine and is committing political suicide? Maybe hopefully some combination of the two she is taking a risk but there is support enough so the risk is worth it?
I admire courage but would not want to risk a person with a Spine. I hope we have tons of support for LGBT issues in the South but I do distrust pols who convert only after they see overwhelming support.
I trust people who convert or have always been with us who have a past record of support on Lefty social issues.
Do we have anyone here who can give us local knowledge of her position’s on all social issues?
Is ALEC involved in this legislation?
How is that possible? NC domestic violence protections currently apply to:
For purposes of this section, the term “personal relationship” means a relationship wherein the parties involved:
(1) Are current or former spouses;
(2) Are persons of opposite sex who live together or have lived together;
(3) Are related as parents and children, including others acting in loco parentis to a minor child, or as grandparents and grandchildren;
(4) Have a child in common;
(5) Are current or former household members;
(6) Are persons of the opposite sex who are in a dating relationship or have been in a dating relationship.
N.C. Gen. Stat. 50B-1 (2009).
Same-sex partners are clearly not covered, and in OH, the laws were indeed challenged for opposite sex partners.
My question wasn’t about same sex couples, but how is this statement true:
The law explicitly covers former spouses, people living together, parents and children, household members, people dating. How can it be said that it would only apply to married couples?
State v. Carswell, 871 N.E.2d 547 (Oh. 2007)?
The law was challenged, but the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the
domestic violence laws stood despite Ohio’s constitutional amendment defining marriage.
BTW, I’m not pro-A One, I just don’t see how domestic violence applies.
The language of the NC constutional amendment could wipe out categories 2-6 in the NC general statutes you list above.
Hagan is pro-LGBT and has been since she was a state senator. She has LGBT family. She’s not out front on anything, but she’s a solid vote when the time for a vote comes.
That said, she’s a corporate lap dog, anti-progress and lives to serve her plutocratic brethren on most other matters. And she won’t see my vote again when she’s up for election in 2014 no matter how pro-LGBT she is.
Of course, I think she’ll jump ship in a minority Democratic Senate to lobby rather than run again in 2014.
Yes, Ohio’s Supreme Court “eventually” cleared the situation up. But, that took YEARS to do. And, during those years, people were without protection.
Seems to me that numbers 2 – 6 could easily depend on the fact that domestic partnerships are currently legal in NC. But, they won’t be legal if the amendment passes. If I were a defense attorney, I would certainly argue that position for my client’s advantage.
That’s a strong statement. Provide a reason why you believe that. BTW, you may be right, but I don’t think so.
Sorry, that was for #8.
There’s a lot of “could” in this article, and in fact in the movement.
Is the stratagy, scare “them” into voting for your cause?
Not really, #3 is parent – child, not domestic partner.
Domestic violence protections don’t depend on domestic partnerships.
Any number of “relationshops” are protected by domestic violence protections. I think the new statute says “unions” that aren’t man-woman aren’t valid, but the domestic violence law doesn’t limiit it to maried, or unions.
Again, my point is not in favor of the law, but that domestic violence isn’t the arguement.
At the risk of feeding a concern troll…
A state constitutional amendment trumps a state statute.
The NC amendment uses the vague phrase “only domestic legal union” which has never been defined by NC courts.
If you’re smart enough to sort through NC’s General Statutes, I’m sure you’re smart enough to find the language of the NC amendment.
Reading the amendment literally, (some or all of) categories 2-6 could be construed as invalid “domestic legal unions” and thrown out.
Because I think you’re a concern troll, I’m disengaging from this argument after this comment, but I thought the lurkers should have a complete explanation on the matter of NC’s domestic partner’s statutes.