Joining its neighbors in the “Bible Belt,” Amendment One passed this evening, marking the first time North Carolina’s constitution passed an amendment to remove rights instead of reward them since 1970, and it didn’t go unnoticed on campus.
The GLBT Center in Harrelson Hall has always been a home away from home for members of the N.C. State GLBT community, but this year, it also became a hub of political activism.
When Amendment One was introduced earlier this year, it was referred to as “the gay marriage amendment.” While the amendment does deal with the definition of civil unions, it does not grant or take away any rights from homosexuals. Rather, it defines unions as being solely between a married male and female and has the potential to disturb the lives of straight couples living in a civil union.
N.C. State GLBT students, however, are interpreting this amendment as an open door for discrimination.
“I’m severely embarrassed to be a North Carolina citizen right now,” Jake Hamilton, a gay senior in philosophy, said.
While students who gathered at the GLBT Center were upset, they weren’t shocked.
“I’ve always been extremely realistic, so this isn’t looking good,” Kyle Vey, sophomore in biomedical engineering and president elect of the GLBT Center, said.
As a Canadian, Vey cannot vote, but has remained active in advocacy against the amendment.
“One day, I’d like to marry that special someone, and I’d like that to be in North Carolina,” Vey said. “I don’t want to see anyone hurt, apparently over half of our state does.”
When the election results were announced at 9:20 p.m., Justine Hollingshead, director of the GLBT Center, broke the news to students.
“No matter what, this is a fight because we wouldn’t have rights anyway,” Hollingshead said. “Tonight and tomorrow, we need to take care of each other. Then, we keep fighting.”
She encouraged students to take action in the upcoming congressional elections, hoping advocacy can help remove those that put the amendment on the ballot from office.
“We just couldn’t beat the rural areas, but we’ll get through this together,” Hollingshead said. “I want to thank the N.C. State community, because these students really stepped up. College students get it-that’s reassuring.”
Armed with comfort food, somber music and the support of friends, the students at the GLBT Center are spending their night recovering and recharging for the fight that is yet to come.
