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Site SearchRaleigh, N.C. — Hundreds of people rallied outside the General Assembly Tuesday in support of what they called "family values legislation."
Churches across the state bused people to Raleigh to attend the rally, which coincided with the introduction of defense-of-marriage bills in the Senate and House.
State Capitol Police estimated the size of the crowd at 10,000, and they filled about half of
The rally was sponsored by Return America, a Wallburg-based group that opposes abortion, gay marriage and gambling.
Sens. Fred Smith, R-Johnston, and Jim Forrester, R-Gaston, spoke at the rally shortly after announcing the filing of Senate Bill 13, which they said strengthens anti-gay legislation already on the books in North Carolina.
Marriage is already defined in the state
"(The bill) does not take any rights that anyone has today away. It does not discriminate against anyone in any shape, form or fashion," Smith said at a press conference.
Smith and Forrester have introduced similar legislation twice before, but Democratic leaders in the Senate routed the bill through a committee that hasn't met in six years.
"That was a place to put the bill for it to die," Forrester said.
House Bill 493, a companion bill, was expected to be introduced later Tuesday, but the parallel pieces of legislation already have generated opposition.
"I'm against what I see as writing discrimination into the constitution," said Sen. Janet Cowell, D-Wake.
Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight said through a spokesman that current laws defining marriage are adequate, and the state doesn't need new legislation on the issue.
House Speaker Joe Hackney wouldn't commit when asked if he thought the bill would come up for vote on the House floor.
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In my opinion - the life styles that produce these organic repercussions need to be dealt with 100% by those who contract these diseases. No insurance coverage - no federal subsidies to off set the expenses. Wrong is wrong and nature has spoken - pay attention or pay the price. If you want to do anything you please - don't expect government to pat you on the back and let you do it ...
March 12, 2007 1:00 p.m.
Homosexuals should be allowed to marry. We need to keep God, and all the all the other giant invisible spooks and goblins out of the government. Heterosexuals have already pretty much destroyed the sanctity of marriage. If people want to preach about morality and sin according to what their invisible spook says, they need to do that in their church and homes.
March 9, 2007 8:19 a.m.
But it's also about being legal next of kin, it's about rights as a spouse, it's about receiving benefits as a spouse, it's about not being locked out of your spouse's hospital room, it's about having authority to determine where your spouse will be buried, it's about receiving death benefits entitled to a spouse, it's about parental rights, it's about who makes medical decisions in the event of an emergency, it's about being recognized as a legal couple, it's about love and commitment. It's about ALL THE SAME THINGS it's about when a man and woman get married.
If you really believe that the only benefit to marriage is being able to get around taxes, why do you care anyway?
March 8, 2007 1:13 p.m.
March 8, 2007 10:47 a.m.
March 8, 2007 8:29 a.m.