Monday, March 5, 2012
Momentum to defeat Amendment 1 grows
An Open Letter to Rev. Franklin Graham and the Evangelical Christian Community
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2012
For More Information: Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, 919-394-8137
Atty. Jennifer Marsh, Acting Director, 919-682-4700
Click Here for a PDF Version of the Letter
March 5, 2012
North Carolina NAACP: Religious Leaders Forum
From One Born Again Evangelical to Another:
An Open Letter to Rev. Franklin Graham and the Evangelical Christian Community
"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:35
"You have heard that it was said, 'love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:43
To all in the U.S. who are loved by God and called to be saints.
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear Rev. Graham,
As your North Carolina sisters and brothers in Christ, we hope that these words find all things well with you and your family.
We acknowledge your recent apology for questioning the faith of President Barack Obama. As we were preparing this letter, the newspapers reported that you had issued an apology to the President for "any comments I have ever made which may have cast any doubt on the personal faith of our president." According to these reports, you apologized "to him and to any I have offended for not better articulating my reason for not supporting him in this election." You apparently went on to say that you could not support him because his position on abortion and same-sex marriage were in "direct conflict" with Scripture.
You encourage us with this apology. Few people find it easy to critically examine our own language and motives, even though most of us know that we do not always fully understand ourselves. Surely the Bible teaches that we are all made of earthly clay and now see but through a glass, darkly, but one day face to face. This gives us hope that our letter, even in this political season, will point toward a more positive and permanent dialogue in our common faith community.
It seems to us that your apology is helpful and yet narrow and almost grudging. And we feel a reluctant confidence that you and many other Evangelicals will continue to disparage President Obama and the faith of other Christians through a critique that pushes him and many of us outside the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Brunswick County Board of Commissioners to support Marriage Ban
Brunswick to join Wake Co. in supporting Amendment 1. So how many more Counties will come out against us?? How many will turn their backs on their LGBT communities..
As written it supports Senate Bill 514, the "Defense of Marriage" act, the legislation that authorized a referendum on whether the state should amend its constitution to define legal marriage as "between one man and one woman" only.
More information on the legislation is available here.
Monday's meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Sandifer Building at the Brunswick County Government Center near Bolivia. The board may enter a closed session one half-hour prior.
The complete agenda is viewable here.
J. Resolution Supporting the Defense of Marriage Act .............................................................. pg. 120
Update I found it. Click here, large pdf
I couldn’t find the resolution, here is County Commissioners info
The Brunswick County Board Of Commissioners is comprised of 5 representatives, who are elected by districts. The commissioners now are elected to serve a four-year term.
Phil Norris Vice Chairman, J. Martin Cooke, Charles Warren, Scott Phillips, William M. Sue Chairman
You can write, fax or e-mail your County Commissioners at the following address:
P.O. Box 249
Bolivia, NC 28422
Fax: 910-253-2004
Phone: 910-253-2017 or 800-442-7033
E-mail: commissioners@brunsco.net
RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT
WHEREAS Senator Peter Brunstetter has sponsored Senate Bi11514 a bill to be entitled AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE THAT MARRIAGE
BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN IS THE ONLY DOMESTIC LEGAL UNION THAT SHALL BE VALID OR RECOGNIZED IN THIS STATE and
WHEREAS all voters in North Carolina shall be asked to vote to wit
()FOR ()AGAINST Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between a man and
a woman is the only domestic union that shall be valid or recognized in this State and
WHEREAS the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners finds that it is in the best interests of the citizens of Brunswick County to support said ballot initiative
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Brunswick County Board of
Commissioners to thank the Brunswick delegation to the North Carolina General Assembly for
supporting Senate Bill 514 the Defense of Marriage Act on behalf of the citizens of Brunswick
County
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be forwarded to the local
Legislative Delegation to the North Carolina General Assembly and to the North Carolina
Association of County Commissioners
Adopted this5h day of March 2012
William M Sue Chairman
Brunswick County Commissioners
ATTEST
Deborah S Gore NCCCC
Clerk to the Board
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Paul Coble for Congress
He thinks he can fix Washington, Like many before him, he claims he can balance the budget..
Friday, March 2, 2012
NC Groups against Amendment 1 has Brian Brown Worried
Brian Brown from NOM is worry that we here in NC against Amendment 1 that in the last days before the May Ballot vote, that we will launch a massive campaign blanketing the NC TV and radio with lies and scare tactics. I guess he scare that we might actually win..
See email letter from Brain Brown..
Dear Marriage Supporter,
I'll keep this short, but the need in North Carolina is urgent.
We've just learned that gay marriage supporters in North Carolina have been stockpiling mountains of cash.
It's looking almost certain that in the final days before the election, they will launch an all-out air war, blanketing North Carolina TV and radio with ads full of lies and misinformation about the Marriage Protection Amendment—using scare tactics to maximum effect before we have a chance to respond.
It's a bold strategy—but we can't let it succeed. And the only way we can fight back is if we have the resources to get our message out to voters. In a fair fight, the truth will prevail—but without the resources to mount an aggressive ad campaign of our own, it won't be a fair fight.
He is afraid that we will be the first southern state to vote this ballot measure down,
If our opponents were to steal victory in North Carolina, it would be devastating for the cause of marriage nationwide—and they know it.
So lets really piss them off and vote this down.. lets be the first and only southern state to vote down this constitutional Amendment concerning marriage.. Let’s show him and the world that NC won’t go back to those days of Jim Crow.. Lets show them that NC is ready for future
Press Release: LGBT March in Mississippi Shut Down by Police
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 1, 2012
Media Contact: Zach Magee, GetEQUAL Mississippi Lead Organizer, zach_m12@yahoo.com
Police Tell LGBT Mississippians It’s Illegal to Be Openly Gay in the State
Permit for Rally Denied at Last Minute, Citing “Safety Concerns”
JACKSON, MS — Gay Mississippians tried to rally in Jackson this morning to draw attention to the need for equality under the law for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) residents of the state, but were turned away by the police. Despite having applied for a permit for a march in the city to highlight LGBT discrimination, organizers were informed shortly before the event that their permit had been denied and they had no right to rally in the city.
The primary organizer of the march, Bob Gilchrist, had organized the event on Facebook, and was expecting a large crowd for the march. The permit was denied even though event organizers were finalizing details to secure required liability insurance. When informed by police that the permit had been denied, those assembled for the march quickly changed plans under the threat of arrest if they were to proceed.
“Mississippi is notorious for basic human rights violations,” said Bob Gilchrist, the event organizer. ”It’s a shame that, in 2012, the state is still maintaining that reputation.”
Zach Magee, a Mississippi native who helped with the organizing behind the march, said, “I can’t believe the state is still maintaining a campaign of fear and intimidation to oppress state residents. Mississippians organized this march and Mississippians were going to attend this march — if the police can’t maintain safety while also permitting gay Mississippians’ freedom of speech, then I don’t know why they’re in the business of law enforcement.”
“As a Mississippian forced to flee my home state to seek equality elsewhere, this decision by the Jackson police is reprehensible,” said Robin McGehee, GetEQUAL’s executive director and a Jackson native. “Despite Mississippi’s long history of racial, gender, and economic discrimination, the state continues to use deceptive tactics like insurance requirements to prevent people from simply walking down the street as openly gay. You would think that Mississippi would have learned its lesson and would try to shake off the chains of its discriminatory past, but this action by Jackson police will simply cement the state’s reputation as the leader of bigotry and discrimination.”
Event organizers partnered with an existing rally at the Capitol building this morning to get their message out, and are currently exploring ways to take action publicly in the future.
Founded in 2010, GetEQUAL is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community and our allies to take bold action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way. For more information, go to www.getequal.org, www.facebook.com/getequal, or www.twitter.com/getequal.
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Burr: Senators Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Cyber security
Proposal strengthens information sharing and encourages private sector innovation
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dan Coats (R-IN), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Richard Burr (R-NC) today introduced the Strengthening and Enhancing Cybersecurity by Using Research, Education, Information, and Technology Act (SECURE IT), their proposal to protect and secure our nation against cybersecurity attacks.
“The SECURE IT Act strengthens America’s cybersecurity by promoting collaboration and information-sharing, updating our criminal laws to account for the growing cyber threat and enhancing research programs to protect our critical networks,” said Senator John McCain. “This legislation will help us begin to meet the very real threat of cyber attack.”
“We are all in agreement that we need to make our nation’s cybersecurity a top priority. I believe we have come up with a strong common sense approach that will help prevent the spread of cyberattacks from network to network and across the Internet, by removing barriers to sharing information about threats, attacks, and strategies for improvement,” Senator Hutchison said. “Our bill focuses on giving businesses the tools they need to protect themselves from the looming threat of cyber criminals, and increased requirements for notification of threats to federal agencies.”
HRC: New President Email Press Release from Joe.
While you know him as the mastermind behind the federal lawsuit to overturn California's
Proposition 8,
Chad's spent his career taking on the toughest fights against entrenched, well-financed interests. He's passionate about our equality and more importantly, has a proven track record of consistently delivering results. Already, the fight to overturn Prop. 8 has prevailed in two federal court rooms.
Chad Griffin has the leadership qualities critical to propel our movement for equality forward and I am so proud that he will succeed me this June leading HRC.
A native of Arkansas and a veteran of the Clinton White House, Chad was inspired by young people in taking on this new endeavor. He told the board this morning, "All over this country in big cities and small towns, there are families and young people who long to be accepted for who they are, and who want be treated with the same dignity and respect as everyone else. Today's generation of young people, and each generation hereafter, must grow up with the full and equal protection of our laws, and finally be free to participate in the American dream. As HRC president, I'll approach our work with a great sense of urgency because there are real life consequences to inaction."
With your support, HRC has won historic victories over the past several years. In addition to passing marriage equality in New York, the District of Columbia, Washington and Maryland, repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, and convincing the Obama administration to stop defending DOMA, HRC also spearheaded successful efforts to pass hate-crimes protections, secure equal hospital visitation rights for same-sex partners, and much more.
But following our recent string of advances, anti-LGBT leaders are trying to dismantle what we have built, brick by brick. That's what makes Chad's leadership – and HRC's work in Congress and in communities across the country – and your voice – even more crucial.
I think of HRC as a family. Over my seven years as president of this great organization, you've been there to help us make tremendous progress for our community. I know that you'll continue to be there as Chad fights to propel our movement forward. He is uniquely qualified to lead HRC into the future.
Sincerely,
Joe Solmonese
President
