Thousands Rally for Marriage

Special Report - May 18, 2011
Several thousand North Carolinians gathered outside the Legislature on May 17 to urge legislators to pass Marriage Protection Amendment legislation that would allow citizens to vote on whether to include the traditional definition of marriage in the State Constitution. The rally, sponsored by Return America, drew citizens, including many pastors, from across the state. Participants urged legislators to pass SB 106—Defense of Marriage, which would put a Marriage Protection Amendment on the 2012 ballot for voters to decide whether to amend the State Constitution to read, “marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.”

The rally included prayer, religious and patriotic music, and comments from pro-family religious and political leaders. The crowd heard from several state senators and representatives who have signed on as sponsors to the legislation in both the Senate and House. Rep. Mitch Gillespie (R–Burke) told attendees, “This year we’re going to make it happen. I fully expect it to pass this year and expect a bipartisan vote.” House Majority Leader Paul “Skip” Stam (R–Wake) echoed that sentiment, stating, “It will get done this year.” Sen. Jim Forrester (R–Gaston), who has sponsored Marriage Protection Amendment bills each of the last seven years, emphasized the importance of protecting marriage because “moms and dads are not interchangeable,” and “children need both fathers and mothers.”

Family Research Council president Tony Perkins told the crowd, “This ongoing effort to treat marriage and family like it were silly putty that can be stretched and distorted into anything we like did not begin with homosexuality. It began with no-fault divorce.” He went on to remind the group that the consequences of the breakdown of the family bring dire and expensive consequences for society. He commended North Carolina voters for helping to put new leadership in place in the General Assembly. The new leadership is considered more friendly to the Marriage Protection Amendment, demonstrated by Sen. Forrester’s comment that the leadership of both the Senate and House “have agreed to hear this bill in committee,” a privilege that has not been afforded to previous years' bills.

North Carolina Family Policy Council president Bill Brooks reminded attendees that, “the road to passing a Marriage Protection Amendment hasn’t been without hurdles, as some will try to misconstrue this effort with ugly words and pointed attacks. As hurtful as those attacks are, those of us here today know the real reason for our efforts. Our desire to protect marriage is to uphold, not destroy; to protect, not condemn; to love, not hate.” He concluded by calling on marriage supporters “to continue to voice support for marriage by calling legislators, telling friends, and by being willing to lovingly engage those that have yet to understand why marriage between a man and a woman is a sacred institution and the cornerstone in the foundation of our society.”

Related resources:
Upcoming Rally for Marriage- May 6, 2011
DOMA Defenders Change Minds - April 26, 2011
“Let the People Vote” - FNC- Spring 2011
DOMA Repeal Introduced - March 15, 2011
U.S. House to Intervene in DOMA Defense - March 15, 2011
Marriage Protection Amendment Filed - February 24, 2011
Majority Battle Rundown - February 2, 2011
Assault on Marriage Intensifies - November 12, 2010
ADF Petitions U.S. Supreme Court - October 15, 2010
Judge Says Federal DOMA Flawed - July 9, 2010

Copyright © 2012. North Carolina Family Policy Council. All rights reserved.