As predicted, the professional anti-gay forces plan to descend on NC

March 3 isn't too late for an East Coast blizzard!

Imagine our being able to claim "dog's punishment" when the fundies are up to their asses in snow!

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by: greatwhitebear @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 09:55:51 AM CST

They should re-label it.

One man. One woman. Equals 50% divorce rate.  That's traditional marriage.  

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by: Wes @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 10:50:52 AM CST

better yet

Lets said if we can't marry, then they shouldn't have the right to a divorce. If they claim they want to protect marriage then wouldn't this a first step.

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by: sickntired @ Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 00:37:58 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Counter Ad shoud be

Two People plus Love.
That's Marriage.

http://www.dyssonance.com  Breaking all the rules...

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by: dyssonance @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 10:57:38 AM CST

They're coming to Maine, too

this weekend- look at this from the FRC's website event list:

Stand for Marriage Rally - Augusta, Maine

Join us as we rally to defeat same-sex marriage in Maine!

When:
Sunday, February 15
6 - 8 PM

Where:
Augusta Civic Center
76 Community Drive, Augusta, ME 04330

Who:
Tony Perkins - Family Research Council
Charla Bansley - Concerned Women for America of Maine
Michael Heath - Maine Family Policy Council
The Hon. Rich Cebra - Maine House of Representatives
Bob Emrich - Maine Jeremiah Project

Admission is free, but ticket is required. To obtain tickets, visit www.mainemarriage.net

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners

Click here for DADT photobook

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by: Louise @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 11:06:43 AM CST

Bad news for NC

I know the demographics of NC has changed recently, but I don't think it's enough to get out of its very conservative past.  Remember, this is still a Jesse Helms state.

Even taking into consideration some of the more liberal areas (Boone, Asheville, the Triangle, Wilmington, Charlotte) there are still many counties where this would pass hands down.

When I travelled through NC recently, I went to some of the "red counties" and spoke to people.  I told them what I was there for and that I had plans to be in Asheville later in the week.

When I said "Asheville", such a look of revulsion came over their faces that I might as well have said "fag".  In NC-speak, these folks will tell you that "Asheville has been overrun with the artsy types", which is code for gays and lesbians - and worse of all, yankees! :)

I know of many places in NC (I'm a native) where cultural conservatism is the norm...and that's why I left 17 years ago - as soon as I could.

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by: kevin @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 11:22:03 AM CST

that's why I said

an amendment would pass if it made it onto the ballot. Look at Heath Blue Dog Anti-gay Shuler. His district includes Asheville, but there are way too many Red voters there to get a progressive candidate.

The demos are changing; NC finally has more people living in the cities and suburbs than in rural areas, many of them are transplants from other parts of the country. That's promising, but we don't have the votes to turn away an amendment.

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by: Pam Spaulding @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 11:29:22 AM CST

[ Parent ]

It's the Dems that Matter

The issue here is not that we can out-organize and out-fund-raise and out-demonstrate the homophobic Christianists -- we can't do any of these things.

The issue is whether the Democrats in the legislature still have the spine to keep the Republicans and their homophobic Christianist buddies from getting this on the ballot.

So, if you don't do anything else, contact your legislators. It matters if they're Republicans. It matters if they're Democrats. Do it!

And keep supporting and voting for Democrats in every election. This filth hasn't yet sullied the North Carolina constitution only because, so far, the Democrats have denied the Republicans this GOTV tool. If ever the Republicans take charge of either house, the amendment will pass and go to voters, and they will vote for it.

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by: S1 @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 11:50:28 AM CST

that's right

And that's why the ENC lobbying day is important. If half the people who showed up in Raleigh at the initial Join the Impact rally against Prop 8 come to the legislature that day, we will have a real impact right here in the state.

I will be curious to see if the rubber hits the road on this one. I'm marking my calendar to go.

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by: Pam Spaulding @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 11:57:07 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Don't hold your breath for Southern Democrats

Many of them are still Dixiecrats.  North Carolina in particular has been a conservative Democrat stronghold dating back to the Civil War.  Southern LGBTs have quite a lot of work to do on this issue as it is Southern nature to be resistant to change.  And since religion plays a huge role in the lives of everyday Southerners, it will be difficult to challenge the homophobia that is ingrained in both the religious and cultural life of the average Southerner.

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by: kevin @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 13:09:26 PM CST

[ Parent ]

.

Kevin, NC has changed quite a bit in the past 17 years, so please stop using terms like "the homophobia that is ingrained in both the religious and cultural life of the average Southerner." As hard as it may be for you to believe there are plenty of progressive Southerners here, too....let's concentrate on the "enemy", which is the Fundy base (whether Northern or Southern, and make no mistake, there are Fundies here from the North as well) instead of blaming everything on the much-maligned and stereotyped "average Southerner". My Dad is an 84-year-old Southern man through and through, but he would not vote for a "marriage amendment", and you insult him (and many, many, others, including me and my husband who are both died-in-the-wool Southerns) every time you paint "Southerners" or "native NCers" with the homophobic brush.

Yes, I certainly am aware that such an amendment would pass here if it went to be the ballot. Guess what? Such amendments pass ANYWHERE they appear on the ballot, even in the most "liberal" states. The fight needs to be on the process, not vilifying the populace by claiming that everyone in NC still luvs Jesse. Even Massachusetts could overturn marriage if it made it to a popular vote--which is why it's so important to catch these things before they get to that point.

Actually it is a testament to NC that we have gone so long WITHOUT its making it to the ballot--seems to me that if this state were the backwoods redneckville you claim, we'd have already passed a Marriage Amendment years ago, wouldn't we?

Again, concentrate on fighting the ENEMY, which is the religious right and their political machine, NOT the people of NC.

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by: kmpintj @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 15:52:45 PM CST

[ Parent ]

They're pretty brazen about it too

Same logo as Yes on 8 in Cali. They must feel pretty powerful after California. (which they will ultimately lose)

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by: slobeck @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 12:01:54 PM CST

that logo is showing up everywhere.

i think it's the focus on the family connection.  looks to me that everyone is getting their talking points and marching orders from dobson central.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

Lurleen on Twitter.

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by: Lurleen @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 12:13:26 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Just made a donation to Equality NC.

It's all I can do from over here in WA.  That, and wish you the best of luck.  

Oh wait!  Who sits on the committee that will be voting on this bill first, and do you know when they'll have the first hearing and/or vote?  I have a step brother in NC I can call, but I don't know him well enough to call and make him do any owrk other than call his legislator.  I need to be armed with the facts first, ma'am. :)

Pam, you might want to put a link to the Equality NC's donation page in a prominent location.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

Lurleen on Twitter.

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by: Lurleen @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 12:11:23 PM CST

Good for You!

I don't know why, but it never occurs to most people that they can help fight battles in other states. People sit at home fretting, realizing there are no battles to fight at home, not realizing how much they can help elsewhere.

A few people can actually travel to help with canvassing and phonebanking in other states, but that's beyond what most people can manage.

And that's where the wonder of plastic comes into play! If you can, even if it's a very small contribution, I'm sure Equality North Carolina could make very good use of additional support.

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by: S1 @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 12:34:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Likely NC amendment committee referrals

In the House, once introduced, the amendment will likely be referred to the Committee on Rules, Calender and Operations of the House first, then to a Judiciary committee.

In the Senate, once introduced, the amendment will likely be referred to the Committee on Way and Means.

The Senate committees have been appointed and are up at http://www.ncleg.net.

The House committees have not yet been appointed for this legislative session.

Of course, the committee referrals are just best guesses based on past history.  The leadership of each chamber will refer the bills once they are filed.

Equality NC http://www.equalitync.org will be monitoring these bills and the legislature carefully.  Sign up for email alerts on their web site at http://eqfed.org/equalitync/jo...

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by: HunterC @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 13:16:59 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I signed up for the emails - good idea.

Btw, your 2nd link isn't working.  I got to the sign up page by going to the main equalitync.org page, then clicking "action center" from the top menu.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

Lurleen on Twitter.

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by: Lurleen @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 13:46:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Thanks again, Lurleen

The email alert link is

http://eqfed.org/equalitync/jo...

Curse my need for punctuation!  Bless my teachers' hearts.

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by: HunterC @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 13:50:21 PM CST

[ Parent ]

VIDEO as many of their remarks as possible

Maybe one idiot will give us the VIRAL Macaca moment. Use their bigotry which approaches hysterical and logic-free, and bare knuckled HATRED...against them.

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

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by: peteyPornpig @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 14:58:01 PM CST

I'd copy their TARGET logo,

label it a Target For HATE

"race, taste. and History finally overcome....and you ain't there"
by Tony Kushner

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by: peteyPornpig @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 14:59:56 PM CST

NC is making progress

but there is no doubt this would still pass. Perhaps the margin would be a little closer than SC. Given the more liberal transplants in our major cities but not by much.

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by: DilworthDem @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 15:23:52 PM CST

ANY state will pass it

The way these amendments are written, ANY state will pass them--Hello, witness California?--so of course it needs to stay off the ballot. The makeup of NC's population has little to do with it (it's not as if Northern transplants are 100% progressive; I think something like 45% of them are Republicans! And certainly, there are thousands of homegrown NC progressives...so please don't make this a fight between "native NC and transplants" because that's not the issue. "Liberal" California passed it, and so will any other statets that gets a chance...which is why denying that chance is so crucial in EVERY state, whether it's NC, Illinois, or Idaho.

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by: kmpintj @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 15:57:34 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The only way...

as you just said is to keep it off the ballot in the first place. If it passed in Cali it'll pass anywhere. You must make sure that is is seen to be unconstitutional to use majority rule to strip a minority of a constitutional right. If not, and this makes it on your ballot. It's already over. Sorry to take such a gloomy outlook, but I once thought it would never happen in California. You cannot afford feel-good optimism to win this fight. What you need is cold hard realism. Kill it now while it's still small.

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by: slobeck @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 17:04:55 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I made my first contribution to ENC

recently, to help support them and all us in the fight to come.

My wedding will be in Boston, and subsequent wedding reception in March will be in North Carolina will have over 100 mostly North Carolinaians in attendance.  For most it will be their first gay wedding related event of their life as both myself and my fiance grew up in North Carolina and have most of our family and friends here.  And I plan to share with all of them information about ENC, and make this fight as personal for them as I can.

We had a openly gay man run for us senate here as the runner up in the primary out of like 6 people running, with a quarter of a million votes.

We had nearly 1500 people turn out at the prop 8 protest in our states capital, and smaller protests around the state.

And we went blue during the last election across the board for president, for our first female gov, and for many other smaller elections.  This is a fight that can be won, and progressive North Carolinians, whether they are natives, or are newer to calling the Tar Heel state home, should not be underestimated.

Equality NC will be our standard bearer in this fight, and everyone needs to sign up for their contact list to find out ways they can help.
http://eqfed.org/equalitync/jo...

Also, here is their facebook group for anyone who is interested:
http://www.new.facebook.com/ho...

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by: Jake Gellar-Goad @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 17:05:47 PM CST

I am well aware of Prop 8's passage

However it was still a close vote and could have gone the other way.

We have a completely different situation on the ground in NC. There is no institutional infrastructure of support for our cause. We would be crushed. It's a big difference. Not to mention the fact that we have NO protections on the books statewide. Contrast that with CA's domestic partnership provisions which are the most comprehensive of their class nationwide.

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by: DilworthDem @ Tue Feb 10, 2009 at 19:37:23 PM CST

"no institutional infrastructure" - that's right

ZERO protections statewide. We came close, but couldn't even pass an anti-bullying law because of squeamish Dems. That's the whole reason the "success" lies in being able to bury the bills in committee. We don't have infrastructure to take the amendment fight statewide. Too many potential allies (we're talking progressives and moderates attuned to a host of lefty issues) are under-informed or clueless about our lack of civil rights. The level of education, never mind wingnut battling without a HUGE amount of help outside the state could have a tiny chance of battling back an amendment on the ballot.

Quite frankly, the best ammunition we would have is the corporate support, since many companies do provide anti-discrimination policies and benefits to same-sex couples. If they were willing and ready to enter the fray, that would make a big difference.

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by: Pam Spaulding @ Thu Feb 12, 2009 at 06:04:40 AM CST

[ Parent ]

On the other hand

that removes a very successful  argument that was used in California. They kept saying we didn't need to have marriage, because we had all the same rights without it. It was a lie, but it was an effective lie.

It won't work for everyone - hell, it probably won't work for a majority, but it would work for a few. Anything that can be used to your advantage should be used.

Cause any fool knows, a dog needs a home; a shelter from pigs on the wing

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by: QueerInSoCal @ Thu Feb 12, 2009 at 06:43:48 AM CST

[ Parent ]