N.C. senator re-introduces same-sex marriage ban

RALEIGH - A Gaston County state senator has once again introduced a proposed amendment to the N.C. Constitution that would ban same-sex marriages.

Sen. Jim Forrester introduced the bill on the same day that the California Supreme Court overturned that state's ban on such marriages. The proposal introduced by Forrester would also prohibit the state from recognizing civil unions, domestic partnerships or other similar relationships.

"We're the only state besides Florida in the Southeast United States that doesn't have it in their constitution that gay marriage is illegal," Forrester said. He said if only the legislative leadership would allow the proposal to make it out of the General Assembly, voters would approve it overwhelmingly.

Ian Palmquist, executive director of Equality NC, a gay rights advocacy group, expressed disappointment in the bill's introduction.

"We're disappointed Sen. Forrester has once again proposed writing discrimination into our state Constitution," Palmquist said.

He said he believed the proposal would go further than merely banning same-sex marriages.

"We believe it would prevent private companies from offering domestic partner benefits," Palmquist said.

Palmquist said that a number of Fortune 500 companies, along with local companies, offer such benefits to their employers.

Forrester said he wasn't optimistic that the bill would be brought up during the General Assembly's short session. Palmquist said he didn't think it would come up either, adding that the legislative leadership would focus this year's legislation "on issues more relevant to North Carolinians daily lives."

North Carolina already has a statute banning such unions. Forrester said that the ban needs to be put in the N.C. Constitution to prevent a liberal court judges from throwing it out.

Palmquist said that he doubts the actions from other states will have much effect in North Carolina.

"We've had four years since it (same-sex marriages) became legal in Massachusetts," Palmquist said. "The sky hasn't fallen."

Barry Smith can be reached at bsmith@link.freedom.com.