[Durham INC] Letter re INC Marriage Resolution

[Darius Mercedes Little]

Bill:

"THE INTERNEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF DURHAM

September 10, 2011


Representative Paul Luebke                                                                                                       North Carolina House of Representatives                                                                                                                                     300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 513                                                                                               Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

Dear Representative Luebke:

The InterNeighborhood Council of Durham believes that our gay and lesbian neighbors deserve the same civil rights their heterosexual neighbors enjoy.  We oppose any measure to amend the constitution to prevent marriage between persons of the same sex.  We urge you not merely to vote against any such measure, but to speak and argue forcefully against it.

In 1961, it was unlawful for a black person to marry a white person while it was lawful for a white seller or landlord to refuse to sell or rent a home to a black buyer or tenant.  There was no public policy reason to support such laws.  Their only foundation was hate and bigotry.  And even though that hate and bigotry was sometimes clothed in a thin disguise of religion or science, right-thinking people saw through it.  Following a supreme struggle involving bitter tears and even bloodshed, these laws were overthrown.

In 2011, it is unlawful for a gay man or woman to marry his or her life partner while is lawful for a home seller or landlord to refuse to sell or rent a home to a homosexual buyer or tenant.  There is no public policy reason to support such laws.  Their only foundation is hate and bigotry.  Have we not learned that hate and bigotry are unworthy of the people of a great nation and that they can never provide the firm foundation which every law that restricts human liberty must have if it is to stand?  Surely the tears and bloodshed of past struggles for human rights and dignity were payment enough to overcome hate and to secure the rights of every citizen.

In diverse and progressive Durham, gay and lesbian people are part of the warp and weft of the fabric of our community.  They are businessmen and women. They are presidents of the PTA and charitable organizations.  They read the lesson in church on Sunday.  They serve on their neighborhood boards.  They are our neighbors.  They are not second-class citizens.  They live and love.  They are us and we are them.

Please see the current attempt to stain our constitution with hateful distinctions between homosexual and heterosexual people for what it is – the desperate last stand of bigotry.  Take this attempt as the opportunity to speak out for justice and charity; not only to defeat the current 

Legis. Ltr.                                                                                                                                     September 10, 2011                                                                                                                      page 2.


desperate measure, but to sweep aside all the laws that treat gay and lesbian citizens differently from their heterosexual neighbors.

The InterNeighborhood Council is an organization founded in 1985 to promote the residential quality of life in Durham.  It counts 40 neighborhood organizations among its constituent members.  You may count on the InterNeighborhood Council for assistance.


Tom Miller


President

1110 Virginia Avenue                                                                                                                     Durham, NC  27705"







--------------------
Darius M. Little
Executive Business Consultant  and
Strategic Marketing Analyst

(web) www.linkedin.com/in/dariuslittle
 
Manta Business Profile/Report: 
http://www.manta.com/c/mtlwj1m/little-s-business-consulting

 
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." [Matt 21:22]

-----Original Message-----
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Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2011 23:16:47 
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Subject: Re: [Durham INC] Letter re INC Marriage Resolution

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