Same-sex unions banned
Voters in the US state of North Carolina have cast their ballots in favour of a ban of not only same-sex marriage but legal recognition of all domestic unions outside opposite-sex marriage.
Tuesday’s ballot saw 61 percent voting yes to the constitutional amendment.
Gay marriage is already outlawed by statute in North Carolina, but supporters of the measure claim its needed to protect against potential civil union laws and possible future actions of “activist judges”.
Amendment One will amend the state constitution to “provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognised in the state”.
Opponents of the amendment say the measure could affect issues such as child custody, hospital visitation, health benefits and prosecution of domestic violence among unmarried couples (gay and straight) because of the narrow definition of the new statute.
Several municipalities in North Carolina also currently provide benefits to same-sex couples which could now be potentially lost.
Equality activists in the US say the measure proves anti-marriage equality forces are not simply anti-marriage, but also against any civil recognition of gay couples’ equality.
If 60% of North Carolinians are backwards thinkers – I’d just love to see Texas or Mississippi vote on it, see how out of touch they are. They probably would bring back slavery
Tell your family and friends if they are travelling to the United States – go straight to Vermont, Connecticut and/or New York State, and not go or to travel to North Carolina (completly bypass that horrible bigoted state)!
Im actually hoping that the economic woes of the US get worse and that the bigots that voted for this shameful amendment are the ones who suffer the most :) America is full of ignorance and stupidity, this just proves it.
Yeh well lets tell others how to live their lives ! Gay ppl dont tell hetro’s how to live. If your going to judge ppl how they live their lives, make sure your own is bloody perfect first !!!!
Boycott! North Carolina is Number 6 on the list of most visited US states. Tourism was worth 4 billion dollars last year. So let’s hope a few ‘fundies’ will be put out of work!
“America = home of the brave, land of the free”
yeah right!
Why would a gay person want to live in red-neck, homophobic state like N Carolina anyway? Let the US bogans have it to themselves so they can interbreed with their parents, siblings and cousins.
North Carolina what a disgrace im sure you would bring back slavery if you had the chance. I think of Deliverance when i think of North Carolina. That fool Sean Harris is from the state seems its the new breeding ground for idiots and bigots. What a bunch of good ole boys. Get a life!