While the words of the Bible strictly advise against the existence of same-sex couples, modern society has grown more accepting and comfortable with the homosexual lifestyle. Despite the overall positive reaction to these developments, opposition still stands in the face of adversity.
On May 8, North Carolina voters brought Amendment One into power. The amendment makes a very notable alteration to the current state constitution. It now reads “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.” Since last spring, the state legislature had debated to bring the amendment onto the voting ballot, and in September of 2011, the vote passed.
Major support for the amendment came from North Carolina citizens who wished to protect the definition of a traditional marriage. Leading the Vote for Marriage NC is Tami Fitzgerald. Despite opposition from several parties, she remains adamant that the correct action was taken in banning same-sex marriage. In a CNN article, Fitzgerald told reporters, “We are not anti-gay; we are pro-marriage. And the point – the whole point – is simply that that you don’t rewrite the nature of God’s design for marriage based on the demands of a group of adults.
Although Fitzgerald and a majority of voters find their actions justified, the amendment has been met with a substantial amount of opposition. Bloggers, users of the social news site reddit, and users of social networking sites have all contributed to the cyber community’s backlash against Amendment One. Several posts surfaced of users of reddit (stylized redditors) putting up pictures and discussion posts in encouragement for homosexual citizens of North Carolina.
Even celebrities, such as musician Ben Folds, have spoken up against the latest change in North Carolina’s state constitution. Folds, who is a native of North Carolina, was shocked and disgusted by the decisions made recently. In an interview with the Huffington Post, Folds gave his two cents on the constitutional ban.
“It’s embarrassing. I don’t believe that the population of people that I know [in North Carolina] agree with that. Everyone is confounded, even the right-leaning people that I know feel like it’s financially irresponsible.” He went on to attribute the decision to companies paying for control of the political system.
Folds was not the only celebrity expressing frustration over the latest step back in marriage equality. Notorious blogger Perez Hilton also responded negatively to Amendment One.“It’s a shame when consenting, adult Americans can’t enjoy the same rights as every other citizen just because radical members of one sub-culture fear difference,” Hilton stated in his blog. Hilton, an avid participant in the It Gets Better Project, sees the passing of this amendment as taking away more protection from homosexual teenagers and couples. He feels that this act of the North Carolina state government is no better than bullying experienced in schools across the country. Videos on the anti-bullying project’s site have even been posted in response to Amendment One.
A day after the amendment took effect, president Barack Obama announced his endorsement of same-sex marriage, making him the first leader of the United States to do so. With the amount of opposition building to Amendment One, it is a wonder that it got passed in the first place. The voters of North Carolina have the right to their own beliefs, but with the backlash generated by this amendment, the clashing interests are becoming a problem. “We feel Americans should freely believe what they will, but when those beliefs harm or hinder the civil rights of fellow citizens, that becomes an issue,” Perez Hilton blogged.
The struggle for equal rights is far from over.