Shortly after noon on Thursday, the openly gay mayors of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Franklinton and Webster issued a joint public statement regarding that day’s passage of Senate Bill 2 in the North Carolina House of Representatives:
Today, the North Carolina House passed Senate Bill 2, which would allow magistrates, as well as assistant Registers of Deeds, to opt out of their constitutional oaths and refuse to perform marriages based on their own religious beliefs. This is an unconscionable redefinition of public service targeted directly at same-sex couples. It is both unconstitutional and discriminatory, as well as fiscally irresponsible in that it subjects the state to prolonged court challenges that will likely scrap the law. Last month, North Carolina’s four openly gay mayors wrote to Governor McCrory to commend him for stating his opposition to Senate Bill 2. The mayors asked the Governor to veto it if it arrived at his desk. The bill has now passed the House, without a veto-proof majority. The Governor has the opportunity to demonstrate strong leadership in defense of law, good government and fundamental constitutional principles that guarantee equal treatment under the law for all citizens. We need his leadership; we need his veto. We urge all citizens to contact his office to that effect.
Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt
Chapel HillMayor Lydia Lavelle
CarrboroMayor Elic Senter
FranklintonMayor Nick Breedlove
Webster
The bill passed 67-43.
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