What Will Happen If North Carolina's Amendment 1 Passes
Residents of North Carolina will vote on Amendment 1 today. Amendment 1 says: "Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state." Here's everything you need to know about the consequences of its passage.
If Amendment 1 passes, the courts could interpret the Amendment to bar the state from giving any protections to unmarried couples – straight or gay. This could:
North Carolina's attorney general said Amendment 1's lack of clarity will result in a significant amount of litigation on many issues which will be decided by courts for years to come.
“If Amendment One passes it could take away those protections and leave victims and their children even more vulnerable than they already are,” said Amily McCool, Wake County Assistant District Attorney.
If courts interpreted Amendment 1 in a far-reaching manner, the Amendment could even invalidate trusts, wills, and end-of-life directives by one partner in favor of the other.
Amendment 1 would also eliminate the domestic partner insurance benefits currently offered to their employees by a number of local governments, including Chapel Hill, Durham, Greensboro, and Mecklenburg and Orange Counties.
Lastly, North Carolina citizens, who should all be equal under the law, will be discriminated by their own State, their own Representatives, and their own citizens.