Equality On Trial

DailyKos, MoveOn join fight against anti-gay Amendment 1 in North Carolina

May 1, 2012

Marriage equality

By Scottie Thomaston

- Yesterday’s #Tweet2BeatA1 Twitter fund raiser to help defeat the odious and far-reaching Amendment 1 in North Carolina was a huge success! The Washington Blade reports:

Activists fighting the anti-gay ballot measure in North Carolina this week teamed up with stars of the Twitter and LGBT blog world to help raise awareness and money to keep the campaign’s ads on television.

“We actually raised $43,000 online yesterday,” said Nation Hahn, director of online engagement for the Coalition to Protect NC Families. Hahn said the effort succeeded in raising both money and visibility for the issue. “I think that both the Twitter and blog fundraising and then the match that was extended by a donor combined to bring in our highest total in one day of fundraising.”

A list of activists, bloggers, straight allies and others who participated, along with some of their tweets can be found here.

- Our progressive allies are stepping up to help defeat the amendment. Daily Kos sent out an email blast today urging people to sign up to phone bank with Courage Campaign. From their email:

Bigotry on the ballot in North Carolina

Scottie, please commit to making phone calls encouraging North Carolinians to vote “no” on Amendment One, which outlaws all types of domestic partnerships except for straight marriage. Click here to sign up.

Conservatives in North Carolina had a plan. They figured it would be easier to pass a constitutional amendment taking away people’s rights if they held the vote when the electorate was as small as possible. So they scheduled the vote on Amendment One during a primary election when turnout is much lower than during the general election.

However, new data shows their plan isn’t working. Because of grassroots efforts to get young people and Democrats to vote, early numbers for the May 8 primary show turnout is higher than even during the record-setting 2008 primary between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

As turnout goes up, the polls are looking better. A 27-point lead for conservatives has been cut in half over the last few weeks.

We can defeat bigotry on the ballot in North Carolina by making sure turnout is as high as possible. Please commit to making phone calls encouraging North Carolinians to vote “no” on Amendment One.

Keep fighting,
Chris Bowers
Campaign Director, Daily Kos

At Daily Kos, our fierce ally Scott Wooledge has been reporting extensively on Amendment 1 and his coverage is always worth reading.

- MoveOn.org is joining the fight as well, sending this email blast out to their list:

Dear North Carolina MoveOn member,

Amendment One is not just scary for gay and lesbian couples like me and my wife, it’s so poorly written that would ensnare all unmarried couples and their children, taking away their rights and benefits.

Here are five reasons to vote against Amendment One. Make sure everyone you know makes it to the polls on May 8 to defeat this constitutional amendment that would hurt children and families:

1. The amendment was written so broadly that it would take away domestic violence protection for all unmarried women. In Ohio, where a similar amendment passed, this loophole has allowed convictions to be overturned.1

2. A child could be taken away from a committed parent who has loved them their entire life, if something happens to the other parent.2

3. A single or widowed senior couple could be forced to marry to keep their legal protections, which would cause them to lose benefits such as pensions, health care, and Social Security.3

4. A child of an unmarried parent could lose their health care and prescription drug coverage, putting the child’s health at risk.4

5. Amendment One would interfere with protections for unmarried couples to visit each other in the hospital and to make emergency medical and financial decisions if one partner is incapacitated.5

We’ve posted a graphic from our friends at the No on Amendment One campaign that discusses these and other heartbreaking consequences if this terrible amendment passes. Can you forward this email to a friend, or click to share the graphic on Facebook or Twitter?

- The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is matching donations to the campaign to defeat Amendment 1 up to $25,000, through midnight. They wrote about their effort:

Act Now: Help Defeat Amendment One in North Carolina

We’re one week out from Election Day in North Carolina, when voters will decide the fate of Amendment One, a far-reaching discriminatory amendment that stands to bar loving same-sex couples from marriage and hurt all Tar Heel State residents in the process
[...]
HRC is proud to be a part of the Protect All North Carolina Families coalition, and we’re helping fund TV ads that could turn the tide. To help spread these ads far and wide, we’ll match your gift to our HRC North Carolina PAC up to $25,000 through midnight tonight.

- This fight in North Carolina is important, not just for the LGBT rights movement but for LGBT North Carolinians. We need to remember as we work to combat this amendment that proposed anti-LGBT legislation like this amendment has a long-term effect on the mental health of LGBT adults and children. These campaigns are waged against us to remind us we’re inferior, and scientific research has shown time and time again when something like this goes on the ballot, it affects more than just our rights.

- Big businesses are still not saying anything about Amendment 1. With a week to go and momentum on our side, you would think if they wanted it to pass they’d speak up.

- While Amendment 1 is being criticized because it would possibly eliminate protections against domestic violence for people who are in domestic partnerships, increasing the risks against victims of that abuse, a supporter of the amendment sends a message to the opposition by way of recording himself shooting at a neighbor’s anti-Amendment 1 sign, leading the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence to weigh in:

New link 4 video by homophobic pro-gunner who shot yard sign opposing #Amendment1 in #NorthCarolina gaw.kr/JK8dhE @protectNC #p2

— CSGV (@CSGV) May 1, 2012

And a pastor in NC who supports the amendment is advocating violence against children:

Can I make it any clearer? Dads, the second you see your son dropping the limp wrist, you walk over there and crack that wrist. Man up. Give him a good punch.

- Jacob already caught this and mentioned it, but the New York Times has weighed in, opposing the amendment. The Daily Show discussed it as well.

- News coverage continues to look bad for proponents of the amendment, even statewide news in North Carolina, and in bigger outlets and magazines, we are seeing more coverage like today’s New Yorker piece, discussing a possible “surprise” in NC, and reporting that this looks different from the Prop 8 fight.

- Protect ALL NC Families, the campaign trying to defeat the amendment, reports in an email to followers:

or all of the talk of “Hollywood liberals” and “New York activists” more than 75% of our money is from North Carolina donors. We have received donations from farmers in the midwest, “mommy bloggers” in Florida and everyone in between.

You have allowed us to put our ads on the air which have created real momentum across North Carolina to defeat the amendment.

Last night we announced that a generous North Carolina family was so inspired by you that they were going to match $25,000 in donations. You contributed $43,000 in response.

They are now prepared to extend the match by another $50,000. This will be the last matching donation of the campaign which means that this is the last time that your gift to defeat the amendment could be doubled.

We are seeing a lot of momentum. There is one week until the May 8 election.

What you can do to help defeat Amendment One:

1. Contribute to the campaign on ActBlue so they have the resources they need to get our message out.

2. Sign up for a Courageous Conversation about Amendment One with someone you know in NC.

3. Follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter.

4. Download social media tools and yard signs to show your opposition to Amendment 1.

5. Volunteer to Call for Equality – a GOTV phone banking effort against Amendment 1.

6. Sign up to help get out the vote in NC yourself! Courage Campaign is arranging out-of-state caravans and travel assistance is available.

Transgender widow sues for benefits in Texas DOMA: BLAG files motion to intervene in challenge...