North Carolina Town Votes to Support Same Sex Marriage Rights

[Are_grits_groceries]

On Tuesday the town of Carrboro, NC, population approximately 19,000, made a significant step in civil rights: The Carrboro Board of Aldermen voted 5-0 to support civil marriage for same-sex couples.

Earlier in the month, in response to California's Proposition 8 which eliminated same-sex marriage, and Arizona's prop 102 and Florida's Prop 2 prohibiting same-sex marriage, board member Jackie Gist proposed a resolution of the board's support of civil marriage for same-sex couples. The resolution reads:

The Election Day victories by anti-gay activists in California, Florida, Arizona and Arkansas were a painful reminder that the gay rights movement still faces many challenges. Civil marriage for same-sex couples must include all the benefits commonly bestowed upon opposite-sex couples, including, among other rights, health care coverage and related decision-making, privileges under immigration and naturalization law, survivor benefits, inheritance rights and child custody.

Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton drew an important analogy:

It was just a couple of college towns when we started in on the civil rights movement in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, and it was just a couple of college towns when we started the process of ending the war in Vietnam.


http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2008/12/05/north-carolina-town-votes-to-support-same-sex-marriage-rights/

:applause:

[bertman]

1. Carrboro also had an openly gay mayor for many years. I'm hoping my Chapel Hill board will

follow suit right away. I'll be shocked if they don't.

We are very fortunate to live in such forward-thinking towns. Carrboro and Chapel Hill are side by side and both are liberal bastions in a sea of conservatism; although, the Tarheel state went BLUE for Obama and Kay Hagan!!!

None other than the recently deceased Jesse Helms said that Chapel Hill should have a fence built around it and then call it the North Carolina Zoo.

[DURHAM D]

2. And, the Chief of police for the past several years is a twofer.

Both a female and a lesbian.

[Catchawave]

3. K&R for great progressive news! n/t

[bluedawg12]

4. Good for their strong gay civil rights stance, consistent with their past progressive

activism.

[rosesaylavee]

5. Wow North Carolina!

You really are blue!

[Triana]

6. Chapel Hill is an awesome little town. I love that place! n/t

[liberal1973]

7. Congrats

:toast: