North Carolina’s Governor, Bev Perdue, is one of those Democrats who takes the easy way out. She talks about how a proposed amendment banning marriage equality in her state would be a waste of legislative resources. But at the same time, she won’t take any sort of principled stand that helps gay, lesbian, and bisexual people shore up the marital rights that are forcibly denied of them on the say that they acknowledge their internal truths:
Perdue says gay marriage law is sufficient [News-Record]
At this point in time, this sort of stance is simply unacceptable. It’s completely clear, to everyone involved in this issue, that this conversation is not going to stop where it is. Gay people exist, and marriage equality is increasing throughout the states. So the head of our states have no choice but to go on record and determine how he or she wishes to deal with that, the clear reality of 2010 America! A de facto “I’m good right here” is no longer enough.
The choice of those engaged on the anti- side of things is to put a constitutional amendment on the books, and they will not rest until they get it. Just as equality activists will not rest, even if the other side does get such a ban. That is the choice, and it is all playing out in real time, in real states, in real America (or even in Sarah Palin’s fake America). “What we have now” is not cutting it for either side, and neither marriage equality activists or their anti-equality opponents are going to pack up and accept quo as an okay status. So it’s time for elected leaders to take a stand: Ours, or the wrong one.
