Ban on Gay Marriage Gets on North Carolina Ballot

[bobbyw24]

RALEIGH, N.C.—North Carolina voters will get to decide next May on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage after the Legislature gave final approval to the question Tuesday, despite protests that the question promoted intolerance and discrimination.

The state Senate voted 30-16 in favor of putting the question on the statewide primary ballot—the minimum number of yes votes needed to meet the three-fifths majority for such amendments. The House approved the measure Monday with a few votes to spare.

The proposal also would bar the state from sanctioning civil unions.

North Carolina is the only state in the Southeast without such a prohibition in its constitution. State law already defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Still, amendment supporters argue that traditional marriage would be better protected against potential legal challenges by same-sex couples in six other states and the District of Columbia.

Thirty states have a gay marriage ban in their constitutions.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904265504576569193270225576.html

 

[Rael]

It probably will pass.

 

[jonhowe]

It's during the REPUBLICAN primary... of course it will pass.

Ugh.

 

[phill4paul]

I live in N.C. and will be voting no to this amendment. The government should not be in the marriage business. Period. It is a church/faith function and as such should remain one.

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...nst-SB106-NC-Definition-of-Marriage-Amendment

 

[BuddyRey]

Thanks for letting us know about this. It'll probably pass, but I'll be raising a ruckus about it to my friends and family in the meantime. It's also very easy to become an ordained minister for free online, so if you know any couples (straight or gay) who wish to be married outside the state apparatus before this ban takes effect, you can officiate the nuptials yourself, or PM me for more info.

 

[Rael]

It's also very easy to become an ordained minister for free online, so if you know any couples (straight or gay) who wish to be married outside the state apparatus before this ban takes effect, you can officiate the nuptials yourself, or PM me for more info.

Gay marriage is already banned in NC by statute.

 

[Krugerrand]

I live in N.C. and will be voting no to this amendment. The government should not be in the marriage business. Period. It is a church/faith function and as such should remain one.

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...nst-SB106-NC-Definition-of-Marriage-Amendment

Are you suggesting marriage is not possible for atheists?

 

[BuddyRey]

Gay marriage is already banned in NC by statute.

I assumed it was. But I still support the idea of the independent clergy taking back their own discretionary prerogative over marriage from the state and conducting them anyway. I'll offer my own services as a minister if the opportunity ever presents itself.

 

[scrosnoe]

This thread is very disturbing to me. I do not want anything to do with promoting gay 'rights'.

 

[Rael]

This thread is very disturbing to me. I do not want anything to do with promoting gay 'rights'.

No such thing as "gay rights". The only rights are individual rights.

 

[erowe1]

Really?

What specific actions does this bill ban? Does it ban gay people having weddings? Living together? Sharing their expenses? Having sex?

I'm guessing it doesn't ban anything at all. It probably just legislates keeping the government out of those arrangements two gay people make with each other, which is as it should be.

 

[jmdrake]

I assumed it was. But I still support the idea of the independent clergy taking back their own discretionary prerogative over marriage from the state and conducting them anyway. I'll offer my own services as a minister if the opportunity ever presents itself.

Ummm....so why do they need to contact you before this so called "ban"? Won't it be just as legal for you to preform a private ceremony that doesn't have the official sanction of the state after this "ban"? If you really want to be advantaged try to marry three people. Or try to marry a couple of gay brothers or sisters.

 

[Rael]

Won't it be just as legal for you to preform a private ceremony that doesn't have the official sanction of the state after this "ban"?

It's already illegal.

N.C.G.S § 51‑6. Solemnization without license unlawful.

No minister, officer, or any other person authorized to solemnize a marriage under the laws of this State shall perform a ceremony of marriage between a man and woman, or shall declare them to be husband and wife, until there is delivered to that person a license for the marriage of the said persons, signed by the register of deeds of the county in which the marriage license was issued or by a lawful deputy or assistant.

 

[erowe1]

It's not legal now.

N.C.G.S § 51‑6. Solemnization without license unlawful.

No minister, officer, or any other person authorized to solemnize a marriage under the laws of this State shall perform a ceremony of marriage between a man and woman, or shall declare them to be husband and wife, until there is delivered to that person a license for the marriage of the said persons, signed by the register of deeds of the county in which the marriage license was issued or by a lawful deputy or assistant.

That law should absolutely be repealed. What is the penalty for people who break it?

 

[Rael]

That law should absolutely be repealed. What is the penalty for people who break it?

§ 51‑7. Penalty for solemnizing without license.

Every minister, officer, or any other person authorized to solemnize a marriage under the laws of this State, who marries any couple without a license being first delivered to that person, as required by law, or after the expiration of such license, or who fails to return such license to the register of deeds within 10 days after any marriage celebrated by virtue thereof, with the certificate appended thereto duly filled up and signed, shall forfeit and pay two hundred dollars ($200.00) to any person who sues therefore, and shall also be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (R.C., c. 68, ss. 6, 13; 1871‑2, c. 193, s. 8; Code, s. 1817; Rev., ss. 2087, 3372; C.S., s. 2499; 1953, c. 638, s. 1; 1967, c. 957, s. 5; 1993, c. 539, s. 415; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2001‑62, s. 7.)

 

[phill4paul]

Are you suggesting marriage is not possible for atheists?

Not in the least. I could see were my post may be interpreted that way but...no.

 

[jmdrake]

It's already illegal.

N.C.G.S § 51‑6. Solemnization without license unlawful.

No minister, officer, or any other person authorized to solemnize a marriage under the laws of this State shall perform a ceremony of marriage between a man and woman, or shall declare them to be husband and wife, until there is delivered to that person a license for the marriage of the said persons, signed by the register of deeds of the county in which the marriage license was issued or by a lawful deputy or assistant.

Well technically the law you quoted only applies to heterosexual couples. So BuddyRey is free under that law to marry two brothers (as sick as that is).

 

[aGameOfThrones]

This thread is very disturbing to me. I do not want anything to do with promoting gay 'rights'.

You mean to extend the privilege of state licensing of marriage to gays, right?

 

[asurfaholic]

Well technically the law you quoted only applies to heterosexual couples. So BuddyRey is free under that law to marry two brothers (as sick as that is).

How did we go from homosexual marriage to incestuous inter-family marriage??

 

[speciallyblend]

ban all marriages and ban neo-cons to!!