***UPDATE: Senate Passes, will go to voters in May of 2012***
North Carolina is one step closer to getting a referendum to same-sex marriage on the ballot next year in the May primary. It still has to pass the Senate, and there are some squishy Republicans that I understand may not be on board. I’m sure that will surprise none of you. However, what does surprise me is that there were around 10 Democrats who voted yes for it in the House.
CBN NEWS – North Carolina voters are one step closer to deciding whether a ban on same-sex marriage should be added to their state constitution.
State house lawmakers voted 75-42 Monday evening to put the question on the May 2012 primary ballot. The bill has been sent to the state senate where it will face more debate.
North Carolina already bans gay marriage, but supporters of the proposed amendment say the extra step is needed to chisel it into their constitution.
“We’re saying keep marriage the way God intended it to be. If the voters don’t want it, they’ll vote it down and we’re prepared to live with that,” local church pastor Patrick Wooden said.
“But I do believe that the people’s voice in a democracy should be heard. We don’t live our lives any differently than anyone else does. We go to work. We come home. We have children, great children,” he said.
Thirty states have already excluded gay marriage in their constitutions. North Carolina is the only southeastern state that does not have marriage defined in its constitution.
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UPDATE: Via WRAL:
North Carolina voters will get to decide next May whether ban on same-sex marriage needs to be written into the state constitution after the state Senate voted Tuesday to put the issue on the ballot.
Also, this tweet from WRAL: Senate approves same-sex marriage amendment, 30-16.
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