Activists to Democrats: Move convention out of Charlotte, North Carolina following gay marriage ban
But Democratic officials say the location isn't changing, despite President Obama’s announcement Wednesday that he supports same-sex marriage
CommentsBy Aliyah Shahid / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Thursday, May 10, 2012, 8:57 AM
Walt Unks/AP
Jeremy Dowell tries to collect his emotions at the Winston-Salem, N.C., office of the Coalition to Protect all N.C. Families as the national news organizations declare that Amendment One passed Tuesday.
Gray Whitley/The Wilson Times/AP
Supporters of the 'WE DO' campaign, represented by Campaign for Southern Equality, march Wednesday in Wilson, N.C., with same-sex couples who were denied a marriage license a day after North Carolina voters approved a constitutional amendment stating marriage is between one man and one woman.
Liberal activists livid at North Carolina's new constitutional
amendment banning gay marriage want to pull the plug on holding the
Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.
More than 26,000 people have signed a petition created by New York-based Gay Marriage USA to move the September convention out of North Carolina and to a "state that upholds values of equality and liberty."
But Democratic officials say the location isn't changing, despite President Obama’s announcement Wednesday that he supports same-sex marriage.
"The convention is staying in Charlotte," Democratic National Convention Committee spokeswoman Kristie Greco told CNN.
Obama will accept the party's nomination at the event.
The ban, Amendment 1, passed on Tuesday. It defines marriage solely as a union between a man and a woman, making it the 30th state to adopt such a measure.
While the Tar Heel State already prohibited same-sex marriage, the proposal goes a step farther and doesn't recognize any type of legal union between couples that aren't married, including civil unions and domestic partnerships.
Adding the ban to the state's constitution also made the ban much harder to overturn in the future.
Supporters in favor of moving the convention flooded the comment thread on Change.org, where the petition was posted.
"Holding the Democratic National Convention in a state that clearly embodies bigotry and prejudice is a slap in the face to what this fine nation stands for," wrote Joseph Fullerton.
"The DNC should not support a state that exhibits bigotry," added Paula Sinozich.
More than 26,000 people have signed a petition created by New York-based Gay Marriage USA to move the September convention out of North Carolina and to a "state that upholds values of equality and liberty."
But Democratic officials say the location isn't changing, despite President Obama’s announcement Wednesday that he supports same-sex marriage.
"The convention is staying in Charlotte," Democratic National Convention Committee spokeswoman Kristie Greco told CNN.
Obama will accept the party's nomination at the event.
The ban, Amendment 1, passed on Tuesday. It defines marriage solely as a union between a man and a woman, making it the 30th state to adopt such a measure.
While the Tar Heel State already prohibited same-sex marriage, the proposal goes a step farther and doesn't recognize any type of legal union between couples that aren't married, including civil unions and domestic partnerships.
Adding the ban to the state's constitution also made the ban much harder to overturn in the future.
Supporters in favor of moving the convention flooded the comment thread on Change.org, where the petition was posted.
"Holding the Democratic National Convention in a state that clearly embodies bigotry and prejudice is a slap in the face to what this fine nation stands for," wrote Joseph Fullerton.
"The DNC should not support a state that exhibits bigotry," added Paula Sinozich.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election-2012/activists-democrats-move-convention-charlotte-north-carolina-gay-marriage-ban-article-1.1075611#ixzz1uTVuN2uu
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