Def shepherd: Why A Heterosexual, Married, North Carolinian Father Of Three Cares About LGBT Equality. I am a heterosexual, married, father of three, who has lived in North Carolina for most of my life.
There have been a few ugly North Carolina moments during the time I have lived here (mostly related to one particular senator who has been in our rear view mirror for quite some time). But the ugliness that took place in North Carolina General Assembly this week was a stark reminder that, while we have made great strides in this state, there are a lot of people who still wish to deny rights to other citizens based on religious beliefs and misconceptions about sexuality and gender. Unless you were living under a rock the past few days, you know that the NC Senate voted 30-16 to approve a proposed constitutional amendment banning any legal relationship recognition for same-sex couples. The irrational and sinister campaign against gay marriage. The "Coalition for Marriage" has started a petition, headed by Lord Carey and an assortment of politicians and religious leaders, which asks people to "support the legal definition of marriage" as "the voluntary union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others" and "oppose any attempt to redefine it.
" The Daily Mail has lavished attention on the group, describing it as "a new grassroots organisation. " 'Grassroots' is an interesting choice of term for a group led by a former Archbishop, former Lord Chancellor, half a dozen MPs, four bishops and countless charity leaders.