I had not intended that this blog would go beyond things
relating to fitness but it is a deep desire on my part to be on record about a
subject that is currently hotly discussed in North Carolina.
Amendment One is a proposed constitutional amendment
which, if passed, would codify into the constitution of North Carolina that the
only legally recognized relationship between two people is a marriage between a
man and a woman.
While obviously aimed to enshrine a ban on same-sex
marriages (which are not allowed in North Carolina under current law already),
the wording of the amendment could possibly exclude any other forms of domestic
partnerships and thus even complicate opposite-sex relationships outside of
marriages.
There is something about this proposed amendment that is
deeply troubling to me. If I turned the clock back just 42 years to the year
1970, my marriage would not have been possible under the laws of North Carolina
at that time. My husband is black, and I
am white. The first legal interracial marriage did not happen here until
October 6, 1971.
If anybody would have proposed then a constitutional
amendment to ban interracial marriage, it may have passed with flying colors,
supported by the same arguments that are now used to vilify another segment of
the population.
I realize that my opinion may be offending to some, and I
am sorry for them.
Karin, thank you for such a thoughtful and well-stated explanation of your opposition to the amendment. There truly are potential consequences if this passes that could be very hurtful to many families. I hope that people will choose to preserve protections for children and respect the dignity of ALL loving couples.
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