Two Sides Harden on Marriage Amendment

An opponent holds a sign at a rally Sunday.

As of Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Passions locally are running strong both for and against the so-called “marriage amendment” on the May 8 primary ballot.

The amendment, if passed, would change the state constitution to ban recognition of same-sex marriages or any other domestic union other than “marriage between one man and one woman.”

Amendment One, as it is called, will be on the ballot when North Carolina voters go to the polls for the primary elections.

Last week, a meeting at the Sandhills Baptist Association offices in Carthage brought together eight or nine pastors — most of them Southern Baptists — to see what they could do to build support for the amendment.

“They all saw this could be put simply as a political issue,” said Tom Lampkin, who organized the session. “They see it as a moral issue. This comes out of the holiness of God — for us as revealed through Scripture in the person of Jesus Christ and how he interpreted the will of the Father.”

The Bible, he said, gives humans everything needed to live a holy life. Everyone there believed the New Testament clearly and unequivocally says marriage is only for one woman married to one man.

They do not deny that they are advocating writing into the state constitution something coming out of one particular religion. But these pastors see the state’s interest as having to do with public health “the health of individuals, of healthy relationships” and moral standards.

“What is right in God’s eyes?” Lampkin asked. “It is not one particular religion, but God’s holiness.”

On the other side of the issue, a room full of opponents — gay and straight — gathered Sunday afternoon at the Southern Pines Civic Club to organize an effort to defeat the amendment. Two married couples described themselves as conservative but strongly against this amendment.

“I am a straight, married person,” Jim DeKornfeld said, speaking out during the meeting. “Institutionalized bigotry and discrimination is wrong. Anytime you can stop bigotry, it’s a good thing.”

He and his wife will vote against Amendment One and try to convince others to fight it as well. Dawn Penfold, DeKornfeld’s wife, said she believes people have a right to choose their own domestic partners.

“It is their right; there are a lot of good people that understand the difference,” Penford said. “I don’t think you can impose on a church if it is their doctrine. That’s their right, as long as you are not infringing on someone else’s rights.”

Larry Postlethwaite feels the same way, and so does his wife, Jane.

“It is just becoming ‘regulation nation’ and I think we have enough regulations already,” he said. “We need to let people have a little bit of freedom and pursue their happiness however they choose to do that. It is not for me to judge.”

He doesn’t understand why politicians who trumpet small government like these kinds of rules.

“Go figure, I can’t understand it,” Postlethwaite said. “I don’t really understand it, but we are here to fight against it. Of course, it is the first time in — what? 100 years? — that Republicans have had the majority here.

“Republicans ran on a platform of job creation, but in North Carolina, Wisconsin, and all of the other state houses where they’ve been voted in — it’s been a social agenda as opposed to a job creation agenda.”

Jane Postlethwaite feels even more strongly about fighting the amendment. She is outraged, embarrassed for the state of North Carolina that this should even appear on a ballot.

“It takes away rights,” she said. “This Amendment One is terrible. When I think of the rights of any human being for having a loving relationship — wanting a family — I think what they are trying to do is wrong. It takes away a person’s right to their own happiness, (the right) to have a family. It is designed to take away essential human dignity. To me — how I really, really feel — I am just so upset with so much government interference in our lives.”

Like her husband, she’s always considered herself a conservative. She’s stunned by the turn her party has taken.

“Can you imagine that the Republican Party — which has always wanted limited government, which is how I feel — will get involved in social issues of a personal nature?” she said. “I think that’s what bothers me most: that their government is so intrusive on something that is so basic. It is amazing.”

All four listened to Michael Edwards lay out ways of organizing to fight Amendment One. Like others at the Civic Club wearing blue “Vote Against One” buttons, they heard volunteers from Moore Against Amendment One explain the use of phone banks and other strategies to have the amendment defeated. They will begin calling registered voters to explain the amendment and urge them to vote against it.

When Edwards asked how many would be willing to spend one evening of their time, every hand in the room went up.

“This is a really bad thing, people!” Edwards said. “This is why all of you are here. I can call 10 people in the time it takes to talk to neighbors on each side of me. Phone banking is vital if we are going to make a difference in Moore County. Yes, everybody in this room should talk to their neighbors.”

Contact John Chappell at jfchappell@gmail.com.

More like this story

Yukonjohn 1 year, 2 months ago

OMG...LMAO!!!! Seriously, freedom of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is written in our great Constitution, and this would prohibit that for some. I don't have a horse in this race, but believe that marriage belongs in the church, and a civil union with all the benefits of marriage belongs in the courthouse.

Islander 1 year, 2 months ago

All forms of same-sex unions will be banned by this amendment, as will all forms of recognition for any unmarried couples. Even if you think gay people don't deserve the word "marriage," you should still be against this amendment because it bans civil unions, too. And even if you don't think same-sex couples should have any legal recognition, you should be against the amendment because it deprives unmarried couples of custody rights, health care for their children, and domestic violence protection (see what happened in Ohio with their amendment).

This amendment is anti-gay to the core, and it has no qualms in taking out hundreds of thousands of straight couples with it. I will vote against it on May 8th (actually, during early voting), and I will be working 40 hours a week to make sure everyone else in North Carolina does the same. This amendment will NOT pass because of inaction on my part.

theonewithsense 1 year, 2 months ago

Gay people will use the word marriage whether you want them to or not. They just want the legal rights that go along with marriage. I'll vote against it. Allowing gay people to legally marry doesn't affect me in any way. They deserve the same rights that I do.

The republican party is really pissing me off with their big government attitudes. The only thing worse than the republican party is the democrats.

Courseaire 1 year, 2 months ago

Yukon - Megga Dittos to your whole post. I was ROTFLMAO. Better that than blowing it off. Of course where you are that could just be a alternative heat source.

clbvpm 1 year, 2 months ago

Don't call me...I defend my right to be free on unwanted solicitations from telemarketers, politicians and all other hot air blowers. Should you be unfortunate enough to call during the NCAA basketball games, you will reap my wrath.

Courseaire 1 year, 2 months ago

Yukon - Glad we got the read that poster's comment before The Pilot deleted it. It gets my vote for "Comment of the Week".

aggou 1 year, 2 months ago

This really isn't seeing it from both sides, it's basically just another headline about what was written a few days ago. I can tell this guy who is writing these stories is against the amendment, but try and hide your bias a bit better next time.

buskwon 1 year, 2 months ago

Thanks Mr Nagy for removing my Armageddon story, I was wrong and you were right , Thank you for being such a good editor. I said nothing vulgar and used no profanity , Great job , Keep it up.

concerned 1 year, 2 months ago

We had over 50 pastors and over a hundred people at the Days Inn in Southern Pines on the 27th of last month in a meeting on how to get this Amendment passed. Here is the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3lG7n...

TOYTIME 1 year, 2 months ago

@clbvpm... Just relax and have fun with them, I do this when my wife is not around, tell the telemarketer your interested and need to get something to write with and then see how long they'll wait there.

JoeGarrison 1 year, 2 months ago

Return America- N.C. Marriage Amendment by AspiringVideographer

Check out Dr. Ron Baity speaking to pastors and interested parties about the marriage amendment.

JustThinking 1 year, 2 months ago

WHATS NEXT? MAKING INSEST LEGAL?

blessherheart 1 year, 2 months ago

Like I could really care what he says.

Courseaire 1 year, 2 months ago

What's Insest? Sex with insects?

Hembloche 1 year, 2 months ago

So sick of the arguments for this amendment. Last I checked we still live in the USA. You DO NOT have the right to impose your religious views on anyone in this country anymore than I have the right to impose my non-religious views. Allowing gay marriage in no way prohibits your rights to practice Christianity or any other religion. There is ABSOLUTELY NO rational argument that can be made against gay marriage. This ridiculous argument that gay marriage shouldn't be legal because they can't procreate is in no way valid. Gay couples can through surrogate motherhood and artificial insemination. The thought that if gay marriage is legalized we as a country will lose out by not adding future generations to our population is just plain dumb (and yes I've heard people try to make that argument). Do you honestly believe that if gay marriage is legalized we'll suddenly have an explosion of gay couples and the heteros will be outnumbered? I urge all rational people out there to oppose any attempt to limit rights to only specific groups.

Hembloche 1 year, 2 months ago

also, @ Courseaire - LoL

Courseaire 1 year, 2 months ago

Ultimately the US will become a society that's better dressed, in well decorated homes with occupants that can choreograph & dance.

clodfelter37 1 year, 2 months ago

Call it civic union, call it legal union, call it anything you like, but it is not marriage. Leave marriage between a male and a female and call the joining of two males or two females anything you want and I will vote for it......it is just not marriage.

jimt 1 year, 2 months ago

clodfelter37, then I assume that you'll vote NO on Amendment One because said Amendment would also ban "domestic partnerships," "civil unions," etc. which arel the things that states have come up with to accomodate same-sex couples short of the term "marriage".