[Durham INC] Same Sex Marriage Resolution

Thu Jul 28 23:04:53 EDT 2011

Dear INC,

Attached, and pasted below, is the resolution that I introduced at Tuesday's Meeting which stands against the NC Legislature's bills that would move to prohibit same sex marriage in North Carolina and wipe out local laws, including those in Durham, that recognize same sex unions.

You and your respective neighborhood associations may think that this is not an INC issue, especially since the City Council recently passed a resolution (of which this INC resolution is a copycat,)  but ask yourself this: Is Fair Housing an INC issue? Is neighborhood diversity an INC issue? Is Durham's right to allow its citizens to do what they desire an INC issue? Yes yes and yes!

If it's not too late, this resolution will be on the agenda at next month's meeting.

Ian Kipp
Duke Park

WHEREAS, throughout its history Durham has proved to be a progressive city in nearly every aspect of its civic endeavor; and
WHEREAS, the City of Durham has adopted and reaffirmed a policy of promoting equal rights and opportunities for employees of Durham Government without regard to race, religion, age, gender, disability, national origin, color, marital status, or sexual orientation; and
WHEREAS, the Durham City Council has shown its commitment to making Durham a welcoming community for gay and lesbian residents by formally extending health care benefits to same sex domestic partners of City employees and their legal dependents in 2002; and
WHEREAS, the Durham City Council passed a resolution supporting marriage equality in 2009 and again, recently, in 2011; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina General Assembly is considering Senate Bill 106 and House Bill 777 that would place on the 2012 ballot a referendum to amend the North Carolina Constitution to prohibit marriage between people of the same gender, and further prohibit the recognition of any other form of domestic legal union; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of such a Constitutional amendment is inconsistent with the City's commitment to equal rights and opportunities for its residents and employees; could invalidate the City of Durham’s domestic partner benefits; and could lead to litigation;
WHEREAS, this diversity of residents is found in, and is seen as a source of strength to, its neighborhoods, represented by the Inter Neighborhood Council; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE INTER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF DURHAM THAT:

1)   The INC opposes Senate Bill 106 and House Bill 777

2)   The INC reaffirms its commitment to equal rights and opportunities for all residents of Durham, including the rights of same-sex couples to share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities, and commitments of civil marriage.

________________________________
From: inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org [inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org] On Behalf Of chloe palenchar [cpalenchar at hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 5:04 PM
To: inc-list at durhaminc.org
Subject: [Durham INC] FW: URGENT: JOIN US TONIGHT TO STOP THE ANTI-LGBT AMENDMENT!

All-

It looks like the NC legislature is moving faster than expected-- INC resolution in August may be null and void at this point. The people watching the legislature are predicting they could vote as early at July 28th (tomorrow).

Here's an email from Equality NC with some information about how you can help try to stop the amendment from being on the ballot.

-chloe

________________________________
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:50:04 -0400
From: enc at equalitync.org
To: cpalenchar at hotmail.com
Subject: URGENT: JOIN US TONIGHT TO STOP THE ANTI-LGBT AMENDMENT!

[http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35020/images/takeaction_banner700_lowres.JPG]
With news that North Carolina lawmakers could potentially take up a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage as soon as [http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35020/images/JOSH%20special%20session.png] <http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2BIjF8HFBf8pqdOeW0py3ccStnAhhgPCq> Thursday, July 28, we're mobilizing volunteers in all parts of the state RIGHT NOW to participate in phone banks tonight to activate constituents, reach out to key legislators, and stop the amendment:
TRIANGLE NC

Raleigh, NC, Equality NC Phonebanks to Defeat the Anti-Gay Amendment
Wednesday, July 27, 11am-9pm
Location: 126 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Contact: Sam Parker, sam at equalitync.org or 919-829-0343, for directions to phone banking locations.
TRIAD NC

Greensboro, NC, Equality NC Phonebanks to Defeat the Anti-Gay Amendment
Wednesday, July 27, 5pm - 9pm
Location: Triad Health Project, 801 Summit Ave, Greensboro NC  27405
Contact: Chris Speer, chris at equalitync.org or 336-327-6158, for directions to phone banking locations.
WESTERN NC

Asheville NC, Equality NC Phonebanks to Defeat the Anti-Gay Amendment
Wednesday, July 27, 5 - 7 PM
Location: Fellowship Hall, First Congregational Church, 20 Oak Street, Asheville, NC 28801
Bring: your cell phone, your charger and a friend.
Contacts:
Lee Crayton: 980-329-5232; lee.crayton82 at gmail.com
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara: 828-242-6672, jbeachferrara at gmail.com
Michael Holcombe: 828-206-6999; cse.intern at gmail.com
EASTERN NC

Phone banks will be set up tomorrow in your region. In the meantime, you can make a difference RIGHT NOW:
Your legislators are in Raleigh RIGHT NOW and they want to hear from YOU on how they should vote on HB 777/SB 106, the anti-LGBT constitutional amendment.
This could be your last chance to make your voice heard in opposition to this discriminatory legislation. Now, more than ever, you must tell your legislators to "JUST SAY NO!"
At this very moment, we're mobilizing LGBT rights supporters from all over the state to call in, write in, and get in contact with their legislators to make it very clear that they oppose any attempt to write discrimination into our state's founding document...and we vote.  Here's how you can join them in ACTING RIGHT NOW:
1) E-mail your legislators! <http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=CBvASpfcqcDoJw7Wu/Sa5MStnAhhgPCq> We've made it easy. Let them know in your own words that you oppose efforts to write discrimination into our state constitution and, most importantly, tell them why they should be opposed to House Bill 777 / Senate Bill 106<http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Oml9htZEEMXW9ld1K8Tgh8StnAhhgPCq>:

 *   The anti-LGBT amendment causes real harm. Couples will be denied even the most basic protections.
 *   The anti-LGBT amendment is bad for business. It harms businesses' right to provide competitive benefits & signals to employers that our state does not welcome diversity.
 *   The anti-LGBT amendment is a distraction from the voters' priorities. We want legislators to tackle jobs and the economy, not to advance a divisive social agenda.
 *   Marriage is already denied same-sex couples by state law. This doesn't change marriage. It attacks LGBT North Carolinians and puts their basic rights up for a vote.

Your legislators need to know how these bills will hurt their constituents, and there's no better person than you to tell them!
2) Call your legislators!<http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=aoLS27yH8BhYz4OVaeSL3sStnAhhgPCq> If you don't already have their numbers on speed dial, click here<http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=mAT6O/jBCF7Ci8u7NKHLNMStnAhhgPCq> to look up the contact information for your NC representative and senator. Calling your legislator is super easy and low stress. All you need to do is say, "My name is _____ and I'm a constituent. I oppose House Bill 777 [for your representative] / Senate Bill 106 [for your senator] because it's bad for families, bad for business, bad for the economy, and bad for my state. Thank you." It's that simple!
3) Pass it on! Now that you've taken action, let your friends know that they need to ACT NOW too! Forward this e-mail to as many friends, family, neighbors, co-workers as you can to encourage them to get involved. You can also re-tweet our posts on Twitter, and re-post our updates on Facebook to let everyone know what's up with our collective #equalityaction!
In the meantime, we'll keep you updated throughout the week on what's happening in Raleigh.

Stay tuned for news and what we're hearing from legislators on the inside by following the action on Twitter at the hashtag: #equalityaction.
Thank-you for your support of Equality,
Jen Jones
P.S. Check out www.equalitync.org<http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=h9GBRDCo31whNUZna/Aq3ZH8Hqw9LvPk> to learn more about the amendment and how you can fight it

________________________________
You are receiving this email because you signed up for Equality NC's online action network. If you prefer not to receive futher emails to this list, click here to unsubscribe<http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=v2FlI4OOc4IhNUZna/Aq3ZH8Hqw9LvPk>.

For a list of links to our recent emails to share on Facebook or Tweet, go here<http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=1oJnUCmWZUf8UHy4BBNwRsStnAhhgPCq>.

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