Wake board endorses gay-marriage amendment

RALEIGH -- Wake County commissioners have just endorsed Amendment One, the forthcoming ballot item which amends the state constitution to state that the only domestic legal union that is valid or recognized in North Carolina is marriage between one man and one woman.

The vote came along party lines, with Republicans Paul Coble, Tony Gurley, Phil Matthews and Joe Bryan supporting the motion and Democrats Erv Portman, James West and Betty Lou Ward opposing it.

Opponents of the gay-marriage ban dominated a public speakers' period at a regular commission meeting, along with those who supported a sustainability report, which failed to get commissioners' support. Tami Fitzgerald, speaking on behalf of Support Marriage NC, was the lone speaker in favor of the gay marriage ban, which will appear on a statewide ballot in May.

"Constitutional amendments constitute generational warfare," Tracy Hollister, who identified herself as a lesbian and a taxpayer, said during the public comment period. "People under 30 don't have an issue as much.

"The country is moving beyond it. North Carolina needs to move in that same direction."

Coble pointed out that the resolution called for the board to endorse the amendment, not for voters to support it. Same-sex marriage is already illegal in North Carolina, but supporters of the amendment such as Fitzgerald say it will prevent judges from issuing opinions which would negate that law.

"How does the county board get off on telling the citizens of Wake County how they should vote?" Portman asked. "Is that not heavy handed? Is that not arrogant?"

The 20 speakers against the motion cited their rights as individuals, possible loss of new business to the Triangle and inappropriate intrusion into private matters as reason to reject the endorsement of the ballot item.

"I just think we are focusing on the wrong thing," West said. "I think we are kind of out of step and out of touch to some degree when it comes to protecting civil rights and civil liberties."

With the Democrats speaking out against the motion and Coble carrying the load for the Republicans, the motion passed after little discussion. As Fitzgerald pointed out, polls have shown that the opinions heard in the room didn't necessarily reflect countywide sentiment.

"There's a lot of more voters in wake county support this amendment than the handful of activists in this room," said Fitzgerald, a registered lobbyist for several Christian and family causes.