amendment 1

Today was a day full of vigils, reflection, and preparation for the future. A voting rights vigil planned for the Pitt County Courthouse in recognition of Bloody Sunday and the current voting rights struggles in this state, and a freedom to marry vigil planned for the Wilson County Courthouse in recognition of this week's Supreme Court marriage cases. Today was spent honoring history from Selma to Stonewall.

The countdown continues. Only 3 days left until this historic Supreme Court freedom to marry case. Lines have been forming out side the Supreme Court for days now. The polling is moving in our favor at a rapid pace. Even a hundred some prominent republicans have made the jump to supporting marriage equality. There are some big events in DC, but you don't have to go that far to have a piece of history with this landmark case, because events are being held all across the country and across North Carolina.

In 3 weeks the Supreme Court will take up a case considering the constitutionality of Prop 8, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and generally the freedom to marry for LGBT couples. Recently Equality NC joined with many other organizations, politicians, and faith leaders to oppose marriage discrimination in the form of an amicus brief. Public events and demonstrations relating to the Supreme Court case are starting to pop up in NC, in DC, and around the country. In 20 or 30 years, how will you answer the question, where were you during this freedom to marry case?

The Supreme Court is taking up the Winsdor DOMA challenge and the Prop 8 Case. Depending on the ruling, and how broad or narrow it is, this could potentially end amendment 1, DOMA, and marriage discrimination all across the country.

After historic victories in the 2012 elections in which marriage equality won and discrimination lost in 4 states and the first openly gay candidate was elected to the US Senate, the US Supreme Court now poised to weigh in on the issue. The Marriage News Watch video below looks at the history of marriage-related rulings by SCOTUS.

They could decide as early as next week whether or not to take up cases challenging DOMA and challenging marriage discrimination. If they opt not to, then marriage equality could resume in California in short order. That, combined with the recent election results, could move a significant percentage of the country's population into areas with marriage equality.

This has been a horrible night for North Carolina, diversity, Progressives, businesses, libertarians, and even some thoughtful Conservatives. The results are not good, they are not fair, and they do not represent the best of this State. When the best that can be said is that there is hope that in a decade or so people will be more loving to their fellow human beings and less hateful (or that at least the usual suspects: Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, and Asheville [and maybe Charlotte, Watauga, and Wilmington] voted against the amendment), it is small solace. But there is hope (below the fold) if we keep it alive.

Here are two petitions, one petitioning the Charlotte City Council & one petitioning the Mecklenburg County Commission, to pass resolutions opposing Amendment 1, just as other cities & counties have done in the past few months.

http://www.change.org/petitions/mecklenburg-county-commission-pass-a-res...

http://www.change.org/petitions/charlotte-city-council-pass-a-resolution...

Protect NC Families, the leading coalition working to defeat the amendment, had their launch event today in the North Carolina Legislative Building. It was a good reminder that, though some legislators may want to write discrimination into our Constitution, it is we the people who hold the true power. It was a diverse crowd of community and faith leaders that reminded us all of that power which we hold.

Follow me below the fold for more discussion of this event, discussion of the amendment, photos, and this week's Marriage News Watch video.