Silent No More

Family North Carolina Magazine—March/April 2009

By Bill Brooks

North Carolina is now the only state in the South without a marriage amendment. That’s simply a fact. With the passage of state marriage amendments in Florida, Arizona and California, there are now 30 states that have amended their constitutions to specify that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.

There are at least a dozen more states that would pass amendments if supporters could get ballot measures before the voters. Voters instinctively understand marriage and its importance. Both polling and the ultimate poll, the ballot box, confirm this time and time again.

Some states with marriage amendments, such as California, have used the ballot and initiative process to bypass the state legislature and place a measure before the people. We do not have this process, however, so that leaves the legislature as the only path to any constitutional amendment. State legislators can initiate the amendment process by passing a bill containing the wording of the amendment by a three-fifths majority vote in both the House and the Senate, or they can convene a constitutional convention to take up the matter. Passing a bill is much preferred.

Most North Carolinians I talk with are shocked to learn our state has not passed a marriage amendment. They are even more surprised when they learn the only reason is the refusal of the leaders in the State House and Senate to allow a marriage amendment bill to be considered.

Some legislative leaders claim a constitutional amendment is unnecessary because we have a strong law that defines marriage. They maintain that if the law was challenged in court, they would rush to pass an amendment. That argument might have carried some weight five years ago, but the legal and legislative climate has changed significantly, making the threat of a lawsuit more likely and the passage of a North Carolina Marriage Amendment critical for 2009.

Three states have now legalized or allowed same-sex marriages to take place for a period of time. In all of these states, Massachusetts, California and Connecticut, the courts have allowed these unions. Several have even attempted to institute same-sex marriage by statute. Although most observers say this would not happen in North Carolina, the fact is we don’t really know what our courts or our legislature might do.

That is why we are calling on the General Assembly to allow voters to have their say on a North Carolina Marriage Amendment. Nothing fancy, just a simple amendment that expresses the will of the vast majority of the people, and places the definition of marriage beyond potential redefinition by our courts or our legislature.

What is different this year—is the simple fact that the voters are tired of waiting for the General Assembly. Legislative leaders have delayed, obfuscated, and refused to act during the past five years of reasoned persuasion. Some have even been willing to accept awards from pro-homosexual organizations that every year are claiming victory for stopping a North Carolina marriage amendment. That lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists are so keen to stop such an amendment is prime evidence that such a measure would thwart their goals of remaking society in their image and extending the rights and benefits of marriage to themselves.

Now, numerous groups, including the North Carolina Family Policy Council, the Christian Action League of North Carolina, Return America, both Catholic bishops in our state, and numerous churches and individuals are coming together to educate the voters of North Carolina on the need for a state marriage amendment. The name of the organization is NC4Marriage and you can find out more about it by visiting the website at: www.NC4Marriage.org.

As we extend the education to the citizens of North Carolina we are finding the education process is not difficult. There is already an innate understanding about marriage and its importance to society. Once people realize the impact that redefining marriage will have on their personal, academic and religious freedoms, they become even more energized to do something. And once they see that if marriage is redefined their hard-earned tax dollars will be going to subsidize those who engage in sexual practices that bring nothing but harm to society, they are more than concerned. When they see that the ultimate goal of the homosexual movement is to destroy the traditional family and teach their children and grandchildren that they too can be homosexuals—they become outraged.

Will this additional activity translate to action during the 2009 legislative session that will put the measure before the people in the fall? Sooner or later, the voters will have their say.

Bill Brooks is president and executive director of the North Carolina Family Policy Council.

Copyright © 2009. North Carolina Family Policy Council. All rights reserved.