N.C. gay marriage ban supporters launch effort

By Gary D. Robertson

RALEIGH, N.C.

Supporters of a constitutional amendment on May's ballot to ban gay marriage in North Carolina began their campaign in earnest Monday, saying the measure would protect one man and one woman unions from those who want to expand what's legal.

The "Vote FOR Marriage NC" coalition is made up largely of conservative-leaning groups, ministers and Southern Baptists who want voters to approve a constitutional amendment to make clear marriage is only between a man and a woman.

State law already makes that distinction, but coalition chairwoman Tami Fitzgerald said an amendment would protect marriage from activist judges and lawmakers who want to allow gay marriage. Amendment supporters have cited as proof a Guilford County lawsuit filed last month challenging the state's involvement in licensing traditional marriages and, in turn, denying licenses for same-sex couples.

The amendment also would prevent the state from sanctioning civil unions or domestic partnerships.

North Carolina is the only Southeastern state without a limit on marriage in its constitution. The Legislature had bottled up proposed amendments for years under Democratic rule. The new Republican majority allowed a vote last September.

Amendment opponents kicked off their campaign last week, saying the amendment would imprint discrimination into the constitution while likely eroding rights for all types of family units led by couples of the same or opposite sex.

The Rev. Mark Harris of Charlotte, president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, said opponents are trying to complicate the referendum.

"The marriage amendment is simple and straightforward," Harris said in a prepared statement. The convention, which represents about 4,300 churches and 1.3 million members, endorsed the amendment in the fall.

"It's about preserving marriage as we've always known it and making sure that activist judges can't redefine it in the future."

Jeremy Kennedy, campaign manager for The Coalition to Protect NC Families, which opposes the amendment, said in an interview that backers ignore potential damage that the amendment could bring to child custody, visitation and domestic violence laws. Amendment supporters also discount the value of North Carolina families who don't fit what some consider the traditional mold, he said.

"This constitutional amendment says only one kind of family is recognized by the government," Kennedy said.

Both sides are receiving money from out-of-state groups on the amendment, which is being closely watched nationally. Six states and the District of Columbia have legalized gay marriage.

Fitzgerald said the pro-amendment National Organization for Marriage has given funds to her group. She declined last week to say how much had been received. The group is expected to file its campaign finance report by the end of this week.

The Coalition to Protect NC Families reported receiving more than $226,000 in money and in-kind contributions during the last two months of 2011. The Washington-based Human Rights Campaign has provided more than $50,000 in donations and payments to employ coalition staff, its report with the State Board of Elections said.

Vote FOR Marriage NC said its campaign would target individuals and churches. The group also unveiled its web site.

Over the weekend, Episcopalians in central North Carolina at their annual meeting approved a resolution reaffirming their opposition to proposed constitutional amendments that prohibit same-sex civil marriage or civil unions. But meeting participants rejected a resolution to support the Guilford County lawsuit, according to unofficial results posted on the Episcopal diocese website. The central North Carolina diocese covers about 120 congregations that include 49,000 people.