North Carolina conservatives may get their way in banning same-sex marriages after passing a motion to place a constitutional amendment on the state’s May 2012 ballot. The final vote – 30-16 – gained three-fifths majority by pin-thin margins needed to pass the measure. The measure kept its momentum after gaining prior approval in the House on Monday, QNotes reports.
Primary sponsor of the amendment, Sen. James Forrester (R-Gaston), expressed thankfulness in wake of its passing.
“This is the eighth year I put in this bill. The bill never had a hearing. I’m very happy to have this bill before us at the time… Moms and dads are not interchangeable. Two dads don’t make a mom. Two moms don’t make a dad. Children need both a father and a mother.” he said.
Forrester continued to explain that the amendment aims to fortify “an institution in our society based upon the complementary male and female loin.”
More conservatives came forward with their elation over their victory. Republican Sen. Dan Soucek noted the bill would prevent “breakdown of the family.”
On the other hand, democrats were not as thrilled. Sen. Josh Stein (D-Wake) stepped up in opposition to the bill.
“Why are we here? Rome is burning. We are on the edge of a double-dip recession,” he said. “Yet, we’ve been called back to this special session to the cost of $50,000 a day not to improve our economy, not even to alleviate the suffering of those down east. No, we are here because some of you want to graft onto our constitution controversial and discriminatory legislation.”
Stein continued, “This is the unfortunate history of social issues in our constitution. None have stood the test of time.”
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for more details.
