For Immediate Release:
Breaking news from North Carolina!
Durham City Council votes unanimously for marriage equality resolution. August 17, 2009.
A first-hand report and video clip by Pam Spaulding, Pam's House Blend .
I am very proud of my hometown tonight after attending the Durham (NC) City Council meeting where a resolution supporting civil marriage equality for same-sex couples was passed unanimously. Mayor Bill Bell and council members affirmed marriage equality. While NC does not allow gay and lesbian couples to marry, it is heartening to have the support of the Bull City (our state legislature has also turned away, for the sixth time, a state marriage amendment).
When I entered the council chambers to sign up to speak (around 6:20, with the meeting to begin at 7PM), it was already filling up. I gave a hug to Mayor Bell, who has known me since I was a little p-a-m. He apparently keeps up with the "trouble" I get into on the Blend and in The Durham News. I was also greeted and hugged by Mike Woodard, who frequently marches in the Pride Parade with the allies and "family" Old West Durham peeps (even though neither of us live in the neighborhood these days).
I sat down in the second row. After several proclamations and bits of business it came to the main agenda items of the night. It was clear this was a big meeting for two reasons -- the resolution and a matter concerning the city's recycling vendor contract. I'm sorry to say that I was not up to date on the latter issue, but after an excruciating hour of debate that shed little light (at least to me) on what the outcome was, it was time for the resolution.
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The council decided to move on the issue, meaning no debate was needed. All but one of those who signed up to speak was in favor of the equality resolution. One woman in my row jumped to her feet to object (about 4:30 in) "Excuse me, I'd like to speak." Mayor Bell firmly, but politely told her "I'm running the meeting" and said they were ready to move the item and vote. And they did -- and there was a standing ovation (4:48). See the video here!
Notice the racial divide -- who was standing and who remained seated. It's too bad that I was unable to get up to speak. That's for another day...I'll take this opportunity to announce that I've been asked to be the keynote speaker at NC Pride this year. The parade, which weaves in OWD (Old West Durham) next to Duke's East Campus, ends with the keynote and other guests. It will be a good opportunity to celebrate the victories -- and address this sad divide in understanding.
And it's pitiful because the city council's vote crossed racial and even political party lines.
The full text:
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CIVIL MARRIAGE FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES
WHEREAS, The Election Day victories by anti-gay activists in California, Florida, Arizona and Arkansas were a painful reminder that the gay rights movement still faces many challenges; and
WHEREAS, discriminatory marriage laws in the United States deprive same-sex couples of over 1000 federal rights and benefits automatically bestowed by civil marriage including, among others, health care coverage, tax benefits, divorce, domestic violence protections, privileges under immigration and naturalization law, inheritance rights, survivor benefits and child custody; and
WHEREAS, the denial of such benefits has been demonstrated to have significant psychological and social impact on the physical, social, and economic well-being of gay and lesbian couples and their families; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court recognizes marriage as one of the basic civil rights fundamental to our very existence and survival and
WHEREAS, heterosexual relationships have a legal framework for their existence through civil marriage, which provides a stabilizing force. In the United States, with the exception of Massachusetts and Connecticut, same-sex couples are currently denied the important legal benefits, rights and responsibilities of civil marriage. Same-sex couples therefore experience several kinds of state sanctioned discrimination that can adversely affect the stability of their relationships and their mental health; and
WHEREAS, the love that brings and binds two people of the same, or opposite sex, together transcends gender; and
WHEREAS, as Americans, we must remember a foundational principle of our form of government: all are created equal. Consistent with the pursuit of liberty and justice for all, same-sex couples should have full and equal access to the rights and responsibilities bestowed by civil marriage; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that civil marriage for same-sex couples must include all the benefits commonly bestowed upon opposite-sex couples, including, among other rights, healthcare coverage and related decision-making, privileges under immigration and naturalization law, survivor benefits, inheritance rights, and child custody.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Durham, endorse and support the rights of same-sex couples to share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities and commitments of civil marriage.
Thank you Mayor Bell and the members of the Durham City Council for affirming that separate is not equal and that the Bull City supports diversity.
William V. "Mayor Bill Bell
Mayor
Phone: (919) 560-4333 ext. 10269
Bill.Bell@durhamnc.gov
Mayor Pro Tem
Cora Cole-McFadden
City Council Member (Ward 1)
Phone: (919) 560-4396 ext. 10277
Cora.Cole-McFadden@durhamnc.gov
Farad Ali
City Council Member (At-Large)
Phone: 560-4396, ext. 10273
E-mail: farad.ali@durhamnc.gov
Eugene A. Brown
City Council member (At-Large)
Phone: (919) 688-9314
Eugene.Brown@durhamnc.gov
Diane Catotti
City Council member (At-Large)
Phone: (919) 560-4396 ext. 10278
diane.catotti@durhamnc.gov
Howard Clement, III
City Council member (Ward 2)
Phone: (919) 560-4396, ext. 10272
Howard.Clement@durhamnc.gov
Mike Woodard
City Council Member (Ward 3)
Phone: (919) 560-4396 ext. 10276
Email: mike.woodard@durhamnc.gov
by Pam Spaulding
Durham, NC USA
Pam's House Blend
pamshouseblend.com
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