US/NC/2011/SB/514
About
North Carolina Senate Bill 514, otherwise known as "Amendment One", is an attempt to further restrict same-sex marriage through an amendment to the state constitution. The bill submits to public vote the question of whether or not the state constitution should be so amended.
Although same-sex marriage is already illegal in North Carolina, Amendment One would revoke many existing benefits conferred by city/municipal governments as well as hamper federal benefits to unmarried heterosexual couples, gay couples married out of state, and others.
Notes
Apparently state Democrats agreed to let the bill go to a vote sooner (May) rather than later (November) in exchange for budgetary concessions from state Republicans. The Republicans, for their part, were apparently expecting a high Republican-to-Democrat turnout at the polls in May because it is also a Republican primary and there were no Democratic seats being contested. That plan was thrown somewhat askew by the announcement of state governer Bev Purdue that she would be stepping down at the end of the term, leading to a contest for her seat.
The issue itself, of course, has also generated considerable furor, and many liberals are expected to show up at the polls primarily to vote against the amendment.
Conclusions
This bill is a bad idea even for those who are opposed to gay marriage.