Tagged: Same-Sex Marriage

U.S. Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) announced Wednesday morning on facebook that she supports gay marriage.  The announcement comes on the same day that the U.S. Supreme Court hears the opening arguments for the Defense Of Marriage Act.

“I have a great deal of respect for varying opinions on the issue,” she says.  “After much thought and prayer, I have come to my own personal conclusion that we shouldn’t tell people who they can love or who they can marry.”

Two same-sex couples are submitting applications for marriage licenses today, knowing they will be turned down. The couples are heading to courthouses in Wilson and Winston-Salem as part of a movement called "We Do" from the group Campaign for Southern Equality. The organization hosted a similar event last week in Asheville as a protest of North Carolina's constitutional ban of gay marriage. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara is the group's executive director and an openly gay minister in the United Church of Christ.

North Carolina voters recently approved an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. The amendment outlaws same sex marriage and threatens the recognition of civil unions and domestic partnerships.

North Carolina is now the thirty-first state to add an amendment banning same-sex marriage to its constitution.

Jessica Jones: Backers of North Carolina's amendment to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions celebrated last night at the North Raleigh Hilton. Kim Creech made a seven-layer white wedding cake that she helped distribute to other supporters.

Kim Creech: was praying that it would happen. And I was glad that it wasn't any more drawn out than it was.