RALEIGH, N.C. — Thousands of supporters of a ban on gay marriage in North Carolina lobbied the Legislature for the second time in a week.
Capitol Police estimated between 3,00 and 4,000 people were at a rally sponsored by Christian conservative group Return America in downtown Raleigh Tuesday. A similar outdoor event attracted thousands in 2007.
North Carolina law defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. But social conservatives want specific language added to the state constitution, arguing that a voter-approved amendment banning gay marriage would push back court challenges.
Thirty states have such bans. Gay rights supporters argue the state shouldn't write discrimination into the constitution.
Religious leaders and lawmakers held a news conference last week promoting the amendment.



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March 4, 2009 1:49 p.m.
That's not spin, or bigotry, or ignorance. It's a fact. No matter how much you scream and cry and whine, it's the truth. This is the basis of marriage. NOT the only purpose of marriage (because I know that'll be the first rebuttal), but the basis of the institution. Even those who say that marriage was only about property in whatever historical time they care to reference must acknowledge that the offspring were key to that model because they inherited the property when the parents died.
And let's see if, in your infinite wisdom, you can craft a response that does NOT include the words "bigot", "ignorant", or "hate". I'd bet you can't.
March 4, 2009 1:47 p.m.
March 4, 2009 1:06 p.m.
March 4, 2009 12:17 p.m.
March 4, 2009 11:58 a.m.