NC NOW is very concerned about this constitutional amendment. Many Raleigh and NC NOW members have gone to rallies against it and it was the focus of the whole morning at our NC NOW state conference on 11/17/11.

According to Representative Rick Glazier, who spoke about it at our state conference

It does not just define marriage as only between a man and a woman—it also bars all heterosexual as well as gay domestic partnerships and civil unions.

This is not a mere codification of the existing law, but a vast expansion, creating one of the most, if not the most, extreme and intrusive law in the US.

It should affect anyone living together but not married in many different but profound ways - this includes disabled people, all hetrosexual domestic partners (not married to each other) including older couples who don't plan to marry or remarry.

This amendment was presented in a special session, with no known cases or lawsuits to prompt it. The amendment was offered in its final form 15 minutes before it was put on the committee calendar. It was discussed at a committee hearing for less than one hour with no public input or outside legal analysis allowed, then debated and voted on the floor of the house not one hour later.

It threatens to alter the family law landscape in ways never even contemplated by its authors or certainly understood by those who voted on it.

You can read highlights of Rep. Glaziers speech in the at Oct-Dec 2011 Raleigh NOW newsletter, but you can read his words directly at
http://www.rickglazier.com/why-the-anti-marriage-amendment-must-be-defeated/

At the conference, we brainstormed actions to defeat this terrible amendment. One main idea was to educate others about it, and get them to VOTE AGAINST IT! If this amendment concerns you, then VOTE VOTE VOTE and get your friends and others to VOTE AGAINST IT in May 2012.