What Will the Marriage Amendment Do? | Eastern North Carolina Now

   Publisher's note: This press release from NC House Majority Leader Paul Stam is the second in a series that makes a salient point in voting in favor of the Amendment One. Click here to read the first in this series.

Press Release:

    On May 8, 2012 the voters will decide whether this provision should be added to the State Constitution:

    "Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. This Section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts."

    This Marriage Amendment would recognize only domestic legal unions between one man and one woman. Domestic partnerships or civil unions, whether opposite-sex or same-sex, would not be valid or recognized here. The second sentence of the Amendment makes clear that the Amendment would not prohibit private companies from entering into private contracts based on relationships chosen by the company. Private employers, for example, could continue to offer domestic partnership or civil union benefits to an employee's same sex or opposite sex partner. But the Amendment would prohibit the government from forcing a company to provide such benefit. The Amendment would prohibit the government from creating "same sex marriage" by calling it something else.

    The meaning of "legal union" as a judicially recognized status is concrete and clear in the context of family relationships. In federal law, "'marriage' means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife..." 1 U.S.C. §7 (1996). This definition of marriage in federal law is consistent with the long-standing definition: marriage is the "[l]egal union of one man and one woman as husband and wife." BLACK'S LAW DICTIONARY 876 (5th ed. 1979). The word "domestic" was added to the words "legal union" to clarify that other legal arrangements, such as business partnerships, would not be affected by this amendment.

    Any benefits extended by government to a person based on a domestic legal union other than marriage would be prohibited. But Government could still extend employment benefits that impact or benefit non-married domestic households. The extension of such benefits, however, could not be predicated only upon the status of a domestic relationship other than marriage. For example, a statute could allow a city employee to pick one other person of his or her choice to be the beneficiary for health insurance. Or a county statute could allow a county employee to pick a beneficiary based on whether they live in the same household.

    I have been amazed at the baseless claims made by opponents. Several continue to be repeated by the media and in an orchestrated letter writing campaign by opponents. Let's set the record straight:

    1. The Marriage Amendment will not adversely affect North Carolina's economy. A 2011 report by the American Legislative Exchange Council ranked states by economic performance between 1999 and 2009 and by economic outlook. 8 of the top 10 economically performing states have marriage amendments. None have legalized same sex marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships. 9 of the 10 states forecasted to have the poorest economic growth have legalized same sex marriage, civil unions and/or domestic partnerships.

    2. The Marriage Amendment Will Not Affect The Enforcement Of Domestic Violence Laws. Opponents would have you think the Amendment obliterates our domestic violence law. The cases they use as authority are Ohio appellate cases later overturned by the Ohio Supreme Court which found the domestic violence statutes consistent with the state's marriage amendment. In Kansas the outcome was the same. Marriage amendments have had no effect on the enforcement of domestic violence statutes. 30 other states have marriage amendments. In all 30 states domestic violence laws continue to be enforced. I have read and reread our domestic violence statutes. I am unable to even comprehend the logic of this objection. The North Carolina domestic violence statute does not even require that these be a romantic or intimate relationship for the statute to apply.

    3. Legally Recognizing Only Heterosexual Marriage Isn't Discrimination Against Homosexuals Wanting To Marry. Marriage between a man and a woman has existed in virtually every known society. It has served the purpose of channeling procreative sexual activity into an institution which will provide a stable environment for children produced from the sexual union of the partners in marriage. Recognizing that heterosexual marriage has provided the best environment for the rearing of future citizens North Carolina has regulated marriage for 342 years. Same sex marriage is an entirely different relationship with a completely different purpose. Expanding the marital institution to other relationships which serve completely different purposes ultimately undermines the institution which has proven to be the best and safest environment for children.

    4. The Amendment Will Not Nullify Medical Powers of Attorney (MPOAs), Wills and Trusts if the parties are homosexual partners. Under G.S. 32A-18 "any competent person who is not engaged in providing health care to the principal for remuneration, and who is 18 years of age or older, may act as a health care agent." The relationship between the patient and the designated agent does not matter. The intent of the testator and trustor is the "gold standard" in NC for interpreting wills and trusts. The Amendment does not change the intent in either one of these instruments. And the Amendment explicitly states that it will not affect the rights of parties to enter into private contractual agreements.

    5. The Marriage Amendment Will Not Determine the Custody and Visitation Rights of Unmarried Parents Unless Their Behavior Affects the Child. Custody orders are based on the "parent"/child relationship, not on the domestic relationship between the "parents". Courts have based custody and visitation on the "best interest of the child." NCGS 50-13.2(2007) The sexual behavior of the party petitioning for custody or visitation is not determinative except as it affects the child.

    The "de facto parenting doctrine" was applied in 2010 in Boseman v. Jarrell. The Supreme Court refused to allow adoption to an unmarried same sex partner but did award joint custody and visitation rights to that non-biological same sex partner who had become a de facto parent to the child.

    There is a real threat to the institution of marriage. In several states same sex marriage has been imposed upon the people by courts that have engaged in tortured judicial reasoning -Massachusetts and Iowa for example. These courts have used state constitutional provisions like ours to reverse the very pro marriage policies that were in effect when the state constitution was adopted.

    Now it's happening in North Carolina. Same sex couples in Asheville went to the Courthouse for two weeks last fall seeking to obtain marriage licenses. A lawsuit was filed by the Register of Deeds of Guilford County in December challenging our state's marriage laws and asking the Court to declare them unconstitutional because they don't allow same-sex partners to "marry". That case is on appeal.

    This Marriage Amendment will ensure that marriage between one man and one woman will be protected from result-oriented judges.

    Voters will decide on May 8th.

    For more information please visit www.VoteFORMarriageNC.com