South Carolina Equality politicking at ‘Brokeback’
by Matt | February 21st, 2006 |The South Carolina Equality Coalition (SCEC), according to an AP article published by the Washington Blade, is using the success of “Brokeback Mountain” to help lobby and work against a pending anti-LGBT measure which would amend the South Carolina Constution and ban recognition of same-sex relationships.
Volunteers with SCEC are showing up at movie theatres showing the film and passing out brochures and other information regarding the amendment. While doing so, the group is looking for votes to go against the measure, which was passed by a combined vote of 131-4 in the South Carolina General Assembly. The anti-LGBT marriage amendment will be on the ballot this November.
According to the article:
No such ballot initiative has been defeated in the 18 states that asked voters to amend constitutions to prohibit same-sex marriages, according to the website for Human Rights Campaign, a national gay advocacy group.
“We encourage these kinds of initiatives,” said Ed Vitagliano, spokesman for the American Family Association, which opposes same-sex marriage. “We think they’re necessary to protect the sanctity of marriage.”
South Carolina Equality Coalition Chairwoman Linda Ketner says the South Carolina proposal is more severe than most. She said it would prevent a private company from being able to recognize a domestic partnership for insurance purposes.
“We are conservative in South Carolina but we are fair,” she said. “And this is not fair.”
North Carolina’s neighbor to the South is in big trouble if this amendment passes. This is America folks!!! We aren’t in some backward, religiously bigoted country (well… some would say we are, lol). I do not understand fully the rationale and thoughts behind such marriage amendments. The only conclusion I can come to is that some people are just too stupid for their own good. The second conclusion I could possibly make…. well, on second thought I will make it: The majority does not always know what is right or good for the country. Yes, in America the majority may rule, but it is not supposed to rule if it hurts the minority. Imagine if the majority were to have decided on the matter of slavery in 1840, or the right for a woman to vote in 1900? How about child labor in 1910? I’m sorry but the majority isn’t always right and sometimes the majority is just plain stupid.
That is why we must elect officials who will force the majority to do what is right just like what happened in the 60’s with integration and the Civil Rights and Voting Acts. It is time for this majority stupidity to stop.
Technorati Tags: gay marriage, gay, lgbt, gay rights, brokeback mountain, south carolina equality coalition, south carolina
Matt, 22, is an LGBT journalist, activist and youth advocate currently living and working in Charlotte, N.C., where he serves as the Editor of Q-Notes, the Carolinas' LGBT news source. A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Matt attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is still continuing to pursue his bachelors degree. He is the Owner & Editor of InterstateQ.com and has been active in LGBT advocacy work since the age of 14.
View all posts by Matt