North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Singer Clay Aiken, a North Carolina native, said he loves his home state but is deeply unhappy about proposed amendment to the state constitution that would ban same sex marriages. The former "American Idol" contestant spoke out about the amendment in a video posted to YouTube on Monday. [ Read more → ]

Marriage equality took center stage again on Monday, with progress on both coasts -- in Washington out west, and in the east, New Jersey. [ Read more → ]

Raleigh N.C. "diaper pastor" Patrick Wooden is not only refusing to take back his comments that gay men have so much anal sex that they require surgery and diapers, and that they use gerbils, baseball bats, and cell phones as sexual instruments, but he seems to be reveling in his notoriety at the expense of looking like a damn fool. [ Read more → ]

Maine, Washington, and Maryland are all closer than ever to marriage equality, but the Governor of New Jersey thinks that civil rights should be put to a popular vote -- whether it's marriage today, or school desegregation in the 1950s. This week's Marriage News Watch report is here... [ Read more → ]

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A coalition consisting of state and national LGBTQ and human rights advocacy groups, faith organizations, communities of color, nonpartisan organizations, and business and community leaders is organizing an effort to defeat the proposed North Carolina constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages. [ Read more → ]

The White House, in response to a Washington Blade inquiry about the possible vote to repeal same-sex marriage rights in New Hampshire, said Thursday night that President Obama “believes strongly in stopping laws designed to take rights away.” [ Read more → ]

Welcome to 2012! We got a lot of work to do this year, so let's roll up our sleeves and get to work. The new year marks new civil union laws in Delaware, Hawaii, and California. Psychologists in North Carolina lash out at anti-gay prejudice, LGBTs can marry in Cancun -- probably -- and something fishy's going on with civil unions in the European Union. [ Read more → ]

One leading advocate called 2011 an “epic” year for marriage equality. Was it? While only one state -- New York -- enacted full marriage rights for same-sex couples, it was the most populous state to do so. Five other states also moved closer to marriage equality than ever before. Public opinion shifted dramatically towards supporting equality. And the Obama administration announced that it no longer considers a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act constitutional. [ Read more → ]

According to Tuesday’s issue of North Carolina’s Charlotte Observer, one of the proponents of the upcoming referendum to outlaw marriage equality in the state, Rev. Mark Harris, the head of the state’s Baptist Convention, wants a “civil debate” over the issue... [ Read more → ]

Among the groups affiliated with the new Vote for Marriage NC is the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). The group has been involved in several high-profile marriage initiatives, including California’s 2008 Proposition 8 and Maine’s 2009 Question 1. Additionally, NOM took a high-profile stance against New York’s legislative push to approve marriage equality there this year. [ Read more → ]

This week, N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis admitted he has "personal difficulty" with the anti-LGBT amendment he helped place on the upcoming primary ballot. "I don’t believe government should be telling us what to do," he said. [ Read more → ]

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Meeting over the weekend with more than 400 of their supporters from across the state, officials with the statewide LGBT advocacy and education group, Equality North Carolina, previewed their official campaign to defeat an anti-LGBT constitutional amendment in May 2012. [ Read more → ]

It was a big night for many openly gay and lesbian candidates across the nation, with several races resulting in first-time victories for openly LGBT candidates in several state and local governments. [ Read more → ]

CHARLOTTE — Democratic candidate LaWana Mayfield made history on Tuesday, soundly defeating Republican opponent Ed Toney in their race for the District 3 city council seat. [ Read more → ]

Statewide LGBT advocacy and education group Equality North Carolina has released new data from a recent Elon University poll showing a majority of North Carolinians oppose an anti-LGBT state constitutional amendment that would ban marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. [ Read more → ]

GASTONIA, N.C. — Anti-gay state Sen. James Forrester (R-Gaston) passed away at Gaston Memorial Hospital on Monday. The 11-term state senator and retired Air Force brigadier general was 74. [ Read more → ]

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A lesbian couple twice refused a marriage license by the Buncombe County Register of Deeds refused to leave the government office today and initiated a sit-in. The two were arrested. [ Read more → ]

As the legal challenge to Prop 8 continues, Equality California backs away from a repeal campaign in 2012. More Republicans than ever back marriage equality, but deportation still looms for legally married LGBTs. And why should the nation's cops have to pay for John Boehner's $1.5 million anti-gay lawyer? [ Read more → ]

NC Governor Bev Perdue is an opportunist and a true politician, not only disregarding standing firm for equality, but embracing economic justifications for social policy. The slave-owners of the pre-war South would find much in common with her. [ Read more → ]

North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue announced today her opposition to a proposed anti-LGBT constitutional amendment that would ban recognition of marriage, civil unions and domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples in the state. [ Read more → ]