Orange County Opposes Marriage Amendment

Special Report - January 27, 2012
The Orange County Board of Commissioners has adopted a resolution formally opposing the Marriage Protection Amendment, which will be considered by North Carolina voters on May 8, 2012. The Commissioners approved the resolution on January 24, upon the recommendation of the county Manager and the Orange County Human Relations Commission (HRC). In their recommendation, the Orange County HRC wrote “that the Proposed [Marriage Protection] Amendment, if approved, writes discrimination into the State’s Constitution [and] Codifying discrimination constitutionally is inconsistent with Orange County’s commitment to social justice and continued efforts to make freedom, justice, and equal opportunity available to all.”

The Resolution approved by the Commissioners argues that the Marriage Protection Amendment “would be inconsistent with Orange County’s commitment to equal rights and opportunities for its residents and employees and would impact the County’s and its local municipalities’ domestic partner registry and benefits.” In the resolution, “the Orange County Board of County Commissioners re-affirms its commitment to social justice, equal rights and equal opportunity for all residents of Orange County” by “oppos[ing] the proposed [Marriage Protection] Amendment #1 that will appear on the May 8, 2012 North Carolina primary ballot.”

Earlier in the week, the Orange County Democratic Party also voted to oppose the Marriage Protection Amendment. Coinciding with that January 23 vote, the Party also voted to “become a member of the Coalition to Protect N.C. families to work actively against Amendment 1,” which is the statewide group working to defeat the Marriage Protection Amendment at the ballot..

“The Commissioners and Democrat Party of Orange County are out of touch with North Carolina citizens,” said Bill Brooks, president of the North Carolina Family Policy Council. “Not only does the Marriage Protection Amendment boast strong majority support among North Carolinians, but the Amendment will not change North Carolina’s marriage law in any way. The current statutory definition of marriage will be protected in the State’s Constitution, where it cannot be changed by a State court or legislature. The Amendment will preserve and strengthen the institution of marriage between one man and one woman as the best environment for raising children, and will not allow the State to recognize any other domestic legal union that undermines marriage.”

Related Resources:
Marriage Resources Page
Faith Leaders Affirm Traditional Marriage - January 20, 2012
Raleigh Opposes Marriage Amendment - December 7, 2011
Polls Find NC Supports Marriage - October 14, 2011
Governor Opposes Marriage Amendment - October 11, 2011
Likely Voters Support the Marriage Amendment - October 6, 2011
Same-Sex Couples Seek Marriage Licenses - October 4, 2011
Marriage Debate Heats Up - September 22, 2011
Marriage Amendment Goes to Voters - September 14, 2011
Marriage Scores on Survey - June 20, 2011
Elon Poll Shows Question Bias - March 2, 2011
Marriage Amendment Support Continues - January 3, 2011

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