On Thursday, Gaston County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution that supports Amendment One. The dictatorial and completely unnecessary amendment would make it illegal to recognize any domestic union in North Carolina other than marriage between one man and one woman and is projected to affect health-insurance benefits for children and negate domestic-violence laws.
- Courtesy of Gaston County’s website
When I took up residence in Gaston County with my son six years ago, the move elicited snickers and eye-rolls from my Charlotte friends who couldn’t believe I’d want to live somewhere so “backwards”. I ignored what I thought to be their uninformed opinions in favor of Mount Holly’s beautiful landscape, friendly people, and safe, calm environment in which to raise a family.
For the first time since then, I wonder if I made the right decision.
I perceive a hollowness now behind the smiles and waves from my neighbors that has me feeling not so welcome anymore. I had a child out of wedlock while living here. Do they feel like my young son isn’t worthy of health insurance? As my stepdaughter practiced a dance routine to Queen for her studio’s spring recital, I looked around the auditorium at the other parents and wondered how many of them were quietly disgusted by the inclusion of a gay performer’s music.
In his scathing response to the vote, Gaston Democratic Chairman Robert John Kellogg echoed my lost sense of community.
“The actions taken by our commissioners were a deliberate infusion of their personal beliefs and religious convictions instead of an informed and benevolent action of true leadership. Instead of putting the community first and opting for unity, they chose to further widen the schism already present into a gaping gulf.”
I understand many Gaston County residents don’t agree with the commission’s vote, but the abundance of “Vote FOR Amendment 1” yard signs around town shows far too many do. I see now why Gaston County was described to me as “backwards”. It is moving in the wrong direction of history. It made the same mistake in the ’60s, when it took a challenge against fair voting for African Americans all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. As marriage equality is shaping up to be the civil-rights issue of this generation, the county has sadly voted for regression once again.
The following is Kellogg’s full response to the commission’s vote:
The decision by our all Republican, County Commissioners to vote in favor of a resolution supporting amendment one was a blow for Democracy which left a black eye on those who are opposed and those who favor a more prudent local government.
The actions taken by our commissioners were a deliberate infusion of their personal beliefs and religious convictions instead of an informed and benevolent action of true leadership. Instead of putting the community first and opting for unity, they chose to further widen the schism already present into a gaping gulf.
I am deeply concerned and saddened that in the end our County Commissioners could not look beyond their own political ambitions,personal ideology and self- promotion to see that their actions would do more harm than good to an already over-heated electorate being pushed toward the boiling point. They opted to follow orders and keep in line with the political machine in Raleigh rather than to follow the oath of office in Gaston County which urges them to serve all people and to act with the best interest of the County in mind.
I find it irresponsible and down-right negligent to promote an amendment that bans an already illegal practice by amending the state constitution, marginalizes whole segments of our state population, puts NC. Families in jeopardy and rolls up the welcome mat in front of the business sector of the state. Every single law school in the state as well as countless conservative politicians and pundits have denounced this amendment for its problematic language and potential harm to families in NC. Yet our all-male, all-white, all-republican County Commissioners blindly ignored the facts and opted for political posturing and playing Russian Roulette with the lives of the very constituents the pledged to serve.
As a gay man and as the County Chair of the Gaston County Democratic party I will continue to stand up for what is right and true and just and will continue to fight against that which discriminates and marginalizes other Americans. We should all be concerned that if this amendment passes we are entering into a dangerous phase of majority mob rule mentality where a religious majority can usurp its authority and doctrine on everyone else regardless of their own personal ideology.
This article appears in Apr 24-30, 2012.
I’m not trying to be smug, but if you had done your political research on Gaston County- the County Commission strives to be in the good graces of the Locke Foundation for fiscal conservatism for heaven’s sake- you would have already known. Mt. Holly and Belmont are beautiful places, but the politics of the county has kept my residence in Mecklenburg County for this exact reason.
Most of your neighbors probably have no true idea about who Queen is( they didn’t do anything that would appear on CMT) let alone deep info on Freddie Mercury. But you are seeing why Mercury hated touring the US and why Queen usually didn’t up close and personal right now.
Ultimately it’s not going to matter if NC passes this amendment. The Supreme Court of the United States will have a the final say, since MOST of the legal benefits and protections of marriage come from the FEDERAL government. The churches and conservative organizations that support this amendment know that, but that’s beside the point. Their strategy is to stir up as much animosity and hysteria against Gay people as possible, so that when SCOTUS finally rules in favor of marriage equality for law-abiding, taxpaying Gay Americans, they’ll be able to scream bloody murder about how the evil government is overturning the “will of the people.”
Personally I avoid spending my money in states where Gay couples are removed from legal protection. I like going to the Outer Banks every summer, and it’s sad that I may have to vacation elsewhere. And yeah, I sure the response from supporters of this amendment will be, “Fine. Stay away. We don’t need YOUR kind here.” I’m accustomed to this kind of prejudice, especially in the Bible Belt. But it isn’t doing North Carolina any ECONOMIC favors.
Erin I am a life long resident of Mount Holly and a member of a local prominent church in the community. I am personally against any legislative act that would ostracize any group of people from our community. I also know that I’m not the only one in the church that feels this way. It’s hate, not love and is not a Christian value in my opinion.
Erin, I am so sorry for what you are feeling and what is happening in our County and State. I am as shocked as you at the vitriol being spread, the divisiveness growing, all in the name of faith? This is not my faith. I was born and raised in Gastonia, and these County Commissioners chose not to represent me or any number of people who are against their resolution in support of the amendment, and who have been against the amendment since it was first introduced last year. My hope and prayer is that enough people will realize what is really important, and what is really at stake, and vote this thing down.
Margaret Smith
And C.B. — Yes, many of us in Gaston County know who Queen is, and who Freddie Mercury was too. And I don’t watch CMT — never have. 😀
In the interest of full disclosure, I will state that I am a candidate seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for US House in the 10th District. That said, I wish to add my voice of support to those who oppose this Amendment and the Gaston County Commissioners’ decision to endorse it. County Commissioners and City Council members have an immediate duty to their constituents. ALL of their constituents. To pass such a declaration is an affront to the residents of Gaston County for whom this Amendment is an embarrassing, unnecessary addition to the ballot. That the Supreme Court will (I am certain) strike down prohibitions on Marriage Equality within the next decade only makes this Amendment seem more like a last-ditch effort to spit in the eye of the notion of ‘Equal Protection under the Law’ codified in the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. That it will be nullified is a sure bet. That our state’s reputation will be so easily restored is an unanswered question. Perhaps we should ask those who lived under anti-miscegenation laws if they’re ready to forget how the powers that be acted until the Court finally stepped in.
To the kind-hearted people of Gaston County that follow Christ’s teachings and live lives of tolerance, love, and fellowship and have spoken out against this Amendment: Bless you and thank you. Your example is truly inspiring.
Timothy Murphy
Rutherfordton
This is a nicely written, heartfelt piece, so kudos to the writer for that. But I can’t get over this one thing: She moved to Gaston County, expecting that the overall political and cultural mindsets would not be right wing and ass-backward? When would that incredible transformation of a notoriously backward county have happened? Look, there are plenty of non-hicks in Gaston, well maybe not “plenty,” but enough to apparently make it tolerable for those who aren’t of the goober persuasion. But the overall vibe? Guess it shows the importance or solid research before moving somewhere.
John Grooms, my man. Are you from Gaston County? If so, which part of the county? If not, from whence does your opinion of Gaston County come? Right wing and ass-backward? Sure, but there are also plenty of progressive lefties over here as well. I’m not sure which is worse — those that are in the minority, struggling to make our voices heard among the cacophony of ignorance and misinformation, or those that leave because they can’t stand the “ass-backwardness.” Either way, it stinks sometimes. But it’s my hometown, and believe it or not, my husband and I came back here, after living out of state for many years, to raise our children. Because, you know, people are so kind in the South. I can’t believe this is where we are, but I will not leave this city now to the ones who are so very loud and (self-)righteous right now.
John can you not see that your statement is the same kind of eyes closed, narrow minded view that you are accusing us of having.
Grooms can’t ever make a statement without whipping out his tiny penis of condescension.
The Republicans are well aware that the courts will eventually overturn the discriminatory laws they keep passing. That is why they are constantly offering constitutional amendments. The amendment takes the courts out of the loop.
I am an independent, and always have been. Over the many years of my adult life I have voted for more Republicans than Democrats, but at this particular moment in time I would not Vote for a Republican if he was running unopposed. The entire party has lost their way.
GastoniaGirl and Andy, I respect your views, but my comments about Gaston County are not from having my eyes closed and being narrow-minded. Of course there are myriad people in Gaston County who aren’t narrow-minded goobers – I said so in my comments, as a matter of fact. I went to school for two years in Gaston County, and I have kin who live there, and I was born in a backward hick town myself (which I remember people calling “little Gastonia,” and not in a kind way), so I’m not just writing blind here. If you enjoy living in Gaston County, a sincere good for you and more power to you. But my comments about your county are no more than one can hear joked about every day by people in Charlotte, who very often use Gastonia as the “gold standard” of area hickdom. Sorry, but that’s just how it is. This is all really well known, y’all. In fact, that was the point of my comments: Gaston County’s reputation is not a secret or anything, so it’s hard to believe that someone would move there, thinking they were moving to Little Carrboro or something.
Poorly written assessment. Journalist are responsbile for being concise, accurate, and unbiased; reporting the facts from both sides of the isle. I’ve read most of the comments within this article and it speaks to the hypocracy of indivduals within the opposing side of the marriage amendment. Speak of being intellectual and wise but you can call residents in Gaston County biggoted, hicks, non caring indivduals. If I wasn’t raised in Gaston County I would swear by these comments that it wasn’t nothing but little hitlers there which speaks to the validity of your statements. Before being acused of being a hick republican, I am unaffliated with any party and retain conservative principles/morals but more in line with libertarians on political issues. I belive the most arrgonant trait amongst all these arguments is the complete disrespect of the democratic process. This is an amendment everyone has the right to vote on and stating federal will triumph state rights is obsurd. I think most people are tired of being bullied by activist that tell them they are wrong and horrible for not thinking a certain way. Freedom pulls from all backgrounds Christian, Muslim, straight, gay etc. We will never agree on everything and that should be accepted. Even though laws currently exsist not recognizing gay marriages it still leaves the door open for an judge to revert that law even when the populace do agree with that law, hence the purpose of adding it to the state constitution. Purpose of most states and countries only accepting marriage as a man and woman is for the sole ability of produceing a child. My biggest support for the amendment is for protection of seperation between church and state. Other states have went the other way and then allowed activist groups to sue a religious orginzations due to refusing to marry a gay couple or hold their ceremony within their facilities. Saw catholic adoption/charitable orginzations stripped of their licensing that hurt many potential famlies and poverty stricken people due to standing strong on their beliefs. From the last time I rembered, abuse was abuse either towards a woman or man, married or not married. Being a Marine I’ve been every where hell and back, and happy to call Belmont my home. Great, kind, caring, and loving people. They may not agree with a lot of things but never chastised anyone for it. They are not the kind of crowd to be pushed around in those matters either. Since i got back home I’ve seen a lot of people from New York to California move here for jobs and bring their ideologies with them and that’s fine; just don’t exspext people down here to be pushovers. Charlotte is big and would be glad to have you. Regan made one great statement “vote with your feet” and ill leave it at that. I respect people’s opinions but this article belongs in a blog. Journalist are held to higher ethics in reporting regardless of their personal beliefs.
It IS in a blog. CL’s blog. Ergo, the name “CLog.”
USMC, please see the word “Opinion” to the left of the blog title. Semper Fi.