Discussing California, marriage equality and its impact on NC on WUNC's The State of Things

Here is the audio of the show:

Today I was a guest on NPR's The State of Things (WUNC), hosted by Frank Stasio, to discuss the impact of the California Supreme Court ruling and its impact on the NC amendment effort. Also on the "Same-Sex Marriage and NC" segment were Wake Forest University Professor of political science John Dinan, and Steven Petrow, the past president of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.

I think there was consensus that the ruling -- and the upcoming ballot initiative, is being watched closely by other states, some for guidance on how to extend marriage equality, and others, like North Carolina, which already has a state DOMA and an onerous amendment has been introduced for the fourth time into the state Senate by good old boy Sen. James Forrester.

Marriage is the union of one man and one woman at one time. This is the only marriage that shall be recognized as valid in this State. The uniting of two persons of the same sex or the uniting of more than two persons of any sex in a marriage, civil union, domestic partnership, or other similar relationship within or outside of this State shall not be valid or recognized in this State. This Constitution shall not be construed to require that marital status or the rights, privileges, benefits, or other legal incidents of marriage be conferred upon unmarried individuals or groups.

The significance of the California ruling is that, unlike Massachusetts, the Golden State does not have a no residency requirement for obtaining a civil marriage license -- and that means North Carolinian same-sex couples would be able to marry -- and contest the constitutionality of the state DOMA here. Steven Petrow mentioned that fact that the Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund has asked the California Supreme Court for a stay issuing same-sex marriage licenses until after the election -- and the outcome of the November ballot initiative.

I discussed my marriage to Kate (2004, in Vancouver, B.C. Canada), which is now legal for the time being only in New York (as a marriage), since that Court of Appeals, the state's highest, declined to review the February 1 appellate court ruling that declared marriages performed outside of NY must be recognized. That legality holds unless the original ruling is reversed by the Court of Appeals (or contradicted by an appellate division).

It was also a treat to talk about the issues with California couple Bob Claunch and Jack Reavley, who plan to wed -- after a 55-year-long relationship. They were featured in the documenary Bob & Jack's 52-Year Adventure, which Kate and I saw at a director's screening here in Durham.

In 1952 an Army sergeant was cornered and courted by his commanding officer. Their romance grew so obvious that rumors became anonymous tips to headquarters. They avoided court-martial by confronting their entire unit. That pivotal moment cemented Bob and Jack together for the rest of their lives. After living through most of the modern LGBT civil rights movement they woke up this morning able to marry each other- and they have decided to take the plunge.

"Our love is still so strong after all these years, yet we were never allowed the ultimate way to express it", says Bob Claunch, now 82, from their home in Los Angeles, CA.

We've always been politically active but neither of us realized how important marriage actually was to us personally until we realized that we actually could become husband...and husband." adds partner turned fiancee Jack Reavley, 83.

Certainly this ruling in CA will give the right wing fodder for the general election, even as it moves rights forward for us all. How it unfolds is largely dependent on the words, actions and demeanor of the presidential candidates themselves regarding the issue -- it cannot be skirted.