Although more Americans are accepting of the notion of same-sex marriage, split right at about 50%, with many polls suggesting a slight edge towards supporting same-sex marriage. Only six states across the United States have legalized same-sex marriage. DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) makes it impossible for same-sex marriage to be recognized on a federal level, thus same-sex marriage can only be legalized on the state level. Out of 50 states, at least 42 have defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman, and currently, 30 states have added constitutional amendments banning same-sex unions. This is significant because a constitutional ban is very difficult to be challenged by judges and lawyers in the future.
Sufficed to say, even taking into account the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, the legalization of same-sex marriage in 6 states (including the District of Columbia), the classification of crimes against gay citizens as a hate crime, and the widespread social acceptance of gay society and culture. Reading the statistics on same-sex marriage shows that the gay-rights movement still has much to do and it is at the very least a daunting task ahead.
North Carolina has now been thrust to the front lines of that battle. In May, voters across the state will have the opportunity to vote on whether or not they support a constitutional amendment that will ban same-sex marriages in North Carolina.
With the national and even international spotlight being shined brightly on North Carolina and specifically Charlotte as a result of events like the DNC, and combined with the fact that this is, after all, a presidential election year, it would seem that North Carolina, somewhat involuntarily, will be at least significantly responsible for the direction in which the gay-rights movement will be able to take moving forward. Could it be the end of the winning-streak that these constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage have been on (all 30 states that have had such a proposition be voted on has passed the ban in some form or another) or will North Carolina strike a near-fatal blow to the gay-rights movement by voting “yes” to a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage?
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