As a queer North Carolinian, I beg of you-
Stop letting this define this state. We will go through the appeals process and just as prop 8 was overturned in California, amendment one will be overturned here. This was a terrible thing that happened... an awful piece of legislation that the ignorant voters of NC voted on poorly. The biggest problem here is no one knew and still doesn't know what amendment one actually said. The most troubling thing about this amendment to me is that it takes rights away from single parents. But none of that was ever talked about or is being talked about now. The only thing that's being talked about is gay marriage... which this amendment actually has little to do with. There have already been laws against same sex marriage in North Carolina. The fact of the matter is this passed because of the ignorance surrounding it. That is why the educated areas voted against whereas the uneducated areas voted for.
This state isn't evil... and neither are the people of it. I spent the past few days feeling ashamed of my status as a North Carolinian, but I'm done with that. With all of the language and hurtful graphics on my dash this week... I'm actually being SHAMED for living here. And that is absurd.
North Carolina is more than Amendment One. It's more than ignorant votes. North Carolina is where I grew up. It's my homestate. It's where I have all of the memories of my childhood. It's my favorite beach. My family vacation to the mountains hiking the Appalachian Trail. It's the schools I went to. The creeks I played in (naked and not). It's the first street I went streaking through. It's the outer banks. It's the fact that it's the only state to have such a perfect geographical spectrum from the coast to the mountains. It's one of the thirteen colonies. North Carolina is so much MORE than this amendment.
Did any of you hating on the whole state and the residents of this state happen to know that a year ago Raleigh was featured third on a list of cities with a large LGBT family population? Growing up in Raleigh being gay was really not a big deal. I was made fun of a lot at school... being gay was NEVER a reason for that. A lot of people asked me questions... but it was honestly because they wanted to know and understand. Not because they were being rude or hurtful... and this was always understood.
The rest of the state hasn't caught up to the capital yet in this respect... But honestly. I'm tired of being shamed for loving the state I grew up in. I do love this state despite this and I will continue to love it as we push and grow through this. This is not a time to hate on North Carolinians... it is a time to educate the ignorant and stand by the rest of us as we take the next steps in this fight.
