Expensive Amendment hurts every One

My humble opinion simply stated, published in the Rhino Times last week:

In the haste to marginalize a minority group of human beings and increase big government interference in our personal lives, NC legislators wrote Amendment One using “vague and untested language” that will create a legal and social quagmire if it passes.  Thousands of unmarried adults, children, and teens are likely to lose:
·        health insurance
·        statutory protections against domestic violence
·        consideration of “children’s best interests” in custody cases
·        family privileges in medical crises

Many NC couples are not married for personal, financial, or legal reasons.  By making their relationships legally invalid and unrecognizable, Amendment One would create enormous problems for them, our social systems, and family courts. Millions of taxpayer dollars would be paid to attorneys instead of improving our state’s infrastructure, education system, job outlook, etc.

Please research the facts about Amendment One, and join leaders from every political persuasion in voting against it.

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The Rhino editor added a comment about Idaho passing an identical amendment with no ill-effects.  I think he was quoting a study by Campbell University professors which has been discounted by family law professors from every law school in NC (including Campbell's).  See http://www.protectncfamilies.org/news/north-carolina-family-law-professors-speak-out-against-amendment-one

Idaho does appear to have had negative consequences from their marriage amendment.  One source I read said that state employees did lose partner health benefits.  And here is proof that attorneys have had to debate, answer questions, etc., all at the expense of Idaho taxpayers:  http://thecritui.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Brandt3.pdf    This source also notes some of the consequences experienced in Michigan.

I stand by my statements.  I like Marriage, but Amendment One is bad for NC.

Dating Would Be More Dangerous Under Amendment One

Married couples don’t start that way.  And the path to matrimony is full of potential dangers. 

No matter how careful one is, the acquaintance date or long-term partner can become abusive.   Scary situations have become so common that teens now attend seminars on dating violence. 

This is why NC has domestic violence laws which defend unmarried people, from teenagers on their first date to cohabitating senior citizens, against physical abuse, sexual assault, and stalking.   Restraining orders and other legal tools acknowledge that abuse in a romantic relationship differs from other kinds of aggression.

But if it passes, NC Amendment One is likely to prohibit legal recognition of any dating relationships.  This would take away our court system’s ability to enforce domestic violence protections unless a couple is married.  (See: http://tinyurl.com/6qpastw pp. 14-18)  

Abusers will get off the hook and out of jail, as they have in other states (like Ohio) passing similar amendments.  And every potential abuser will know this.

Amendment One would remove an important legal safety net for all unmarried NC residents, including our teenagers.  My daughters will begin to run the dating gauntlet very soon.  For their safety as well as that of every other unmarried person in this state, I hope it does not pass.