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Published: 2011-10-19 20:08:00
Updated: 2011-10-19 23:17:39

Same-sex marriage debate hits NCSU


nc state senate gay marriage ban
nc state senate gay marriage ban
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Two days after a homophobic slur was spray-painted on North Carolina State University's campus, the student government showed support for the gay and lesbian community by passing a resolution opposing the North Carolina General Assembly's proposed ban on gay marriage.

Some members of the student senate said the proposed amendment to North Carolina's constitution affects gay and lesbian students on campus and student government should make a statement. Supporters said the resolution would make it clear that diversity of all types is welcome.

"N.C. State is the people's university," student senator Harrison Do said. "At the end of the day, by fighting for the rights of our Wolfpack family at State, we are also fighting for the rights of all North Carolinians."

Those against the resolution said it is a state-level political issue and it isn't the place for college students to weigh in.

Some senators wanted to seek input from the student body before voting.

"We haven't polled the student body. This is just the student government," student Senator Alex Compton said. "I feel like we need to get a better opinion from the student body before we can an opinion on this."

The resolution passed 29-6.

“The proposed amendment has vague and untested wording which will result in a significant period of time and state money spent on court cases to determine the meaning of the bill,” the resolution states. "North Carolina State University Student Government strongly encourages our state legislature to focus on more important matters at hand including stimulating job growth, hurricane relief and education."

Earlier Wednesday, the student senate passed a separate bill expressing value of diversity.

A copy of the resolution on same sex marriage will be given to state legislators.

Voters across the state will get a chance to vote on the same-sex constitutional amendment in May.

The NCSU campus was rocked this week after someone spray-painted a homophobic slur and the words "burn" and "die" on the door of the N.C. State Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Center on Monday night. Campus police are investigating the incident. 

In response, students plan to hold a rally on Thursday to show support for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community at the school.


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"@haggis basher..You might want to check your facts again about Franklin being an atheist. Jefferson's bible was just his interpretation of the new testament. Not a completely new religion. Wow! Some people kids!"

Yes perhaps deist would have been more accurate. I have however no doubt that he would have been an atheist if he were living today.

As for Jefferson, he certainly was no conventional Christian and again given his willingness to be unconventional it seems unlikely he would have stuck even with Deism if he had todays knowledge.

Scaramouche-As said before, Truth always stands out over ignorance in the end. I think it was a thoroughly and sound verbal beating.

jasonconaway6969, when you are done being thoroughly and soundly beaten verbally please let me know. I will gladly stop and accept your apologies.

Jefferson further says: "I know that Gouverneur Morris, who claimed to be in his secrets, and believed himself to be so, has often told me that General Washington believed no more in that system [Christianity] than he did" (Ibid).

Gouverneur Morris was the principal drafter of the Constitution of the United States; he was a member of the Continental Congress, a United States senator from New York, and minister to France. He accepted, to a considerable extent, the skeptical views of French Freethinkers.

after a solemn debate he was deliberately voted out of it. ... There is not only in the theory of our government no recognition of God's laws and sovereignty, but its practical operation, its administration, has been conformable to its theory. Those who have been called to administer the government have not been men making any public profession of Christianity. ... Washington was a man of valor and wisdom. He was esteemed by the whole world as a great and good man; but he was not a professing Christian."

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