I’m calling on my fellow Orange County residents to help defeat amendment one, also known as the marriage discrimination amendment, by voting against the amendment on May 8th.

You may be aware that all domestic partnerships, for both gay and straight couples alike, will be ended in places that offer them such as Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Durham, should this amendment pass. This could have devastating effects on hospital visitation rights, on the ability to share healthcare benefits, and on end-of-life-care decision-making rights for LGBT couples. So you should vote against the amendment, on May 8th.

But what you may not be aware of is that this amendment has special cause for alarm for all unmarried couples, because of its prohibition against the recognition of any union other than marriage.

UNC law professors have warned us against a repeat of what happened in Ohio, whose similarly-worded amendment called into question their domestic violence protection laws.

The North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence has also joined the fight against the amendment because of its tragic implications.

So you really should vote against it, on May 8th.

Even Tea Party Republican Congresswoman Renee Ellmers says this amendment goes much too far and should be voted against.

Please, vote against this amendment on May 8th.  Or early vote against it during the early voting period starting on April 19th.  Or, if you’re especially motivated, look up Equality NC and ask them how you can volunteer.

Jake Gellar-Goad
Chapel Hill Resident

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