Urgent - Raleigh City Council to vote on opposing N.C. Constitutional anti-gay marriage amendment on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 1:00 PM

Urgent - Raleigh City Council to vote on opposing N.C. Constitutional anti-gay marriage amendment on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 1:00 PM

To all Raleigh GLBT Citizens and our Friends; (This Email is a little long, but it is very important … please read further)

YOU ARE NEEDED TO HELP … PLEASE RESPOND ASAP:

This morning I received the URGENT Email, included below, from Mr. Stan Kimer whom we all know and who is the only open gay person on the Raleigh Human Relations Commission, informing me and all of us that we are needed to support a Proclamation in opposition to the anti-gay marriage amendment to our North Carolina Constitution, which will be on our public ballot in May 2012. This Proclamation is being presented to the Raleigh City Council by the Raleigh Human Relations Commission, (again read the included Email below).

Let me give everyone a little background information as to how this Proclamation action has come about:
Back during the recent Raleigh City Council election period, the Raleigh GLBT Report sent to each candidate seeking to be elected to the Council and Raleigh Mayor's office a survey, each person subscribed to the Report received the responses to this survey. You will read below, two incumbent candidates responded and indicated that the Raleigh City Council should send out a Proclamation opposing the anti-gay marriage amendment. Raleigh City Councilor Mary Ann Baldwin went so far as to contact the Raleigh Human Relations Commission asking that they sponsor such a Proclamation. Stan Kimer, a member of the Raleigh Human Relations Commission sponsored the Proclamation and has helped steer it through to this point. Please read the Proclamation wording included immediately below and supplied to us by Mr. Stan Kimer: (NOTE: Please read the Proclamation and Mr. Kimer's Email and then read additional information request for how to HELP, further below, from me.)

Adopted by the City of Raleigh Human Relations Commission – October 13, 2011:  Statement Opposing the state of North Carolina's proposed anti-gay Constitutional Amendment

Direction from two city council members: in survey replies sent to the "Raleigh GLBT Report:"



Russ Stephenson:
What do you see as being the most important issues within Raleigh facing homosexual citizens that needs to be addressed by your administration? Please give complete details. A: The most important issue facing the homosexual community is the legislature's determination to legislate discrimination. The Raleigh Council should pass a resolution, similar to Durham and Chapel Hill, to rally votes against the same-sex amendment.

Mary Ann Baldwin:
What do you see as being the most important issues within Raleigh facing homosexual citizens that needs to be addressed by your administration? Please give complete details. A: Raleigh has been a very tolerant community. But my fear is that the recent anti-gay marriage amendment could trigger aggressive behavior aimed at gays, otherwise known as "gay bashing." We have to ensure that, should this occur, it is not tolerated and anyone engaging is such behavior is prosecuted. Second, I think the Raleigh City Council needs to send a resolution to the Legislature condemning the anti-gay marriage amendment. In fact, I asked the Human Relations Commission today to review this issue and come before Council with their recommendation. And finally, I think that Raleigh simply needs to do what Raleigh has always done — welcome people of all communities to live, work and play in the Best City in America.


Motion:  The City of Raleigh Human Relations Commission recommends that the Raleigh City Council make a public pronouncement against the "anti-gay" marriage amendment recently passed by the State Legislature that will be on the May, 2012 ballot

Amendment Language:  "Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state. This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts."

PROPOSE:  The Raleigh City Council opposes the "marriage amendment" to the NC Constitution that will be on the NC May, 2012.