Today, at the polls, citizens cast their votes regarding Amendment One, a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment, that bans same-sex marriages, civil unions and domestic partnerships.
Voting in favor of Amendment One means that you’re electing that it be added to the state’s constitution which revises Article 14 and explicitly defines marriage as the following:
| Sec. 6. Marriage.Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts. |
Although same-sex marriage is illegal in the state of North Carolina, Amendment One explicitly bans the marriage AND THE LIKE–domestic partnerships and civil unions. Banning such will affect the structure of households that are currently being dishonored by Amendment One.
Medically, more parties of domestic partnerships and civil unions can look forward to increased premiums. If Amendment One is added, these persons who are covered on their partner’s insurance would be dropped and urged to purchase individual policies.
How do you think this consequence combined with the current unemployment rate affect persons who are involved in domestic partnerships and civil unions?
And how does it affect the psyche and quality of life of domestic partners? Amendment One would play negatively on the psyche of individuals who are involved in domestic partnerships and civil unions. With the state prepared not to honor such unions, we can anticipate a stronger shift in thought amongst our local communities in which members would become more vocal and overt, dismissing such unions publicly. Our policies directly define societal norms and with it our train of thought. Legislation is the directive of our lives.
While I understand the importance of “being fruitful and multiplying” as stated in The Good Book, I have an intolerance against publicly shaming or dismissing a person’s right to choose whom they want to love.
Think of our community, our colleagues, our neighbors, friends and family … who are currently honoring a domestic partnership or union. How does this affect their quality of life as they work and live in a state that dishonors a very important aspect of their lives–whom and how they love?
Source: http://www.ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Article_XIV,_North_Carolina_Constitution
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