Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx, who represents North Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District, has never exactly been a friend to the LGBT community.
But her recent push for an amendment that would ban use of Department of Defense funds for same-gender couple benefits by U.S. military agencies sheds a harsh light on a more disturbing trend in the annals of discriminatory legislation: using redundant lawmaking to create political wedges.
You see, Foxx's amendment, which passed the House on Thursday, essentially just mandates enforcement of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in order to ban military benefits like housing, education, medical services, and transportation for same-gender couples. The amendment, therefore, assumes that military leaders simply needed to be reminded that, as federal entities, they are bound by the law; or rather, that a nation needed to understand clearly that folks who fight and die for their country don't yet deserve relationship recognition.
This same type of "superfluous-lawmaking-for-political-points" can be seen in Foxx's home state, as North Carolina's proposed constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality is slated to come up in a special September legislative session. Considering the fact that state statute already denies LGBT couples the right to marry in North Carolina, it would seem (and was unwittingly confirmed by proponents) that this sudden urgency to enshrine discrimination into our state's founding document is in actuality a mere attempt to drive conservative voters to the ballot in 2012.
It's up to us to let our legislators know that LGBT folks are not a wedge issue to be played when the electoral chips are down--we're North Carolinians, like them, plain and simple. Here's how we start:
If you're a community leader. Host a HOUSE PARTY FOR EQUALITY, to engage supporters, sign postcards, raise money and inform folks in your area about how the anti-LGBT amendment will impact people they know and love.
If you're a business leader. Sign our NORTH CAROLINA BUSINESS DECLARATION AGAINST THE ANTI-LGBT AMENDMENT, making your voice heard that a state that codifies discrimination is bad for business.
If you're a faith leader. Sign our RELIGIOUS DECLARATION AGAINST THE ANTI-LGBT AMENDMENT, and take this unique opportunity to turn your beliefs into action.
And if you're with us. Get UNITED AT THE UNION, our chance to come together in the coming weeks to mobilize against the amendment.
Because wedges are so 2010.
For Equality,
Jen Jones
Your Communications Director
P.S. Volunteers are desperately needed to help us move the massive number of anti-amendment constituent messages to key legislators.
Can't make ENC's Postcard Volunteer Night on Monday, July 11? No problem...just e-mail josh@equalitync.org for more information about openings on Tuesday and Wednesday night! #equalityaction
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