As a response to the upcoming amendment against gay marriage in North Carolina, the GLBT center is teaming up with several N.C . State and Raleigh organizations.
The director of the on campus GLBT Center, Justine Hollingshead , explained that the organization is still in the planning stages of official means to combat the amendment. However, her thoughts gave some insight on the amendment and what the GLBT Center will be doing to commemorate GLBT History Month in October.
“We have been in discussions with allies like the Women’s Center, the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity, Student Government and Union Activities Board,” Hollingshead said.
The news is still fairly recent, so Hollingshead did not cite any specific GLBT events planned so far.
Hollingshead explained that the GLBT Center plans on spreading the word around campus through student organizations, focusing on teaching students why the amendment could be potentially harmful.
“We know we’re going to have to educate folks on the amendment and what that means, why it’s discriminatory, why we don’t support that,” Hollingshead said.
The Republican-led legislature — in both the House and Senate — approved the bill.
Aaron Dancy, chairman of N.C. State’s College Republicans, explained that his organization would not be doing anything to support the amendments passage.
“I would tell my members at the meeting that [your opinion on the amendment] is up to you,” Dancy said. “We’re leaving it up to the voters to decide.”
Neither College Republicans nor the GLBT Center have harsh feelings toward one another.
“We’re not about the business of politics,” Hollingshead said, explaining that the GLBT Center wants to make sure not to stray into politics.
Dancy explained that although not all members in the College Republicans support the amendment, he does support the amendment himself.
“I wasn’t telling [College Republicans] to support this because it’s the right thing to do, it’s a more personal thing for me,” Dancy said.
Andrew Hammond, a junior in history, used to live in Washington D.C., one of the few places in the U.S. where gay marriage is legal.
“[The amendment] is definitely something that I don’t really agree with,” Hammond said.
Gay marriage is already illegal under North Carolina law. The passage of an amendment would make government sanctioned gay marriage an even more difficult achievement in the future. According to Hollingshead, the amendment will also take away benefits from same sex couples that are recognized in several cities in North Carolina.
Kirsten Thibault, a freshman in biomedical engineering, is also against the amendment’s passage.
“I’m definitely for gay marriage; I can’t believe that they are trying to make things more difficult. They already have a law — why do they have to make an amendment?” Kirsten said.
All adults can vote for or against the amendment Tuesday, May 8, 2012 when the ballot vote will be held.
Along with activism against the amendment, Hollingshead said that the GLBT Center has a big agenda for GLBT History Month in October. Hollingshead said that the GLBT Center will be making t-shirts, painting the expression tunnel and bringing in a guest speaker as part of next month’s activities.
North Carolina’s 27th annual GLBT festival will be held this Saurday on the campus of Duke University in Durham. Hollingshead said N.C. State’s GLBT Center will definitely have a presence at the festival.
Hollingshead explained that much of the action the GLBT Center is taking now is part of an effort to educate students and all North Carolinians about gay rights.
“This is really beyond politics. It’s about civil rights and equal rights,” Hollingshead said.
