In opposition to a proposed amendment to the North Carolina Constitution that hits the voting polls on May 8, a Raleigh-based photographer has begun a campaign to encourage voting against it.
The Vote Against Project began when Curtis Brown, Raleigh photographer, decided to take a stand against a proposition that, in his opinion, threatens to strip N.C . families of their rights.
“I’m not a very political person,” Brown said, “but this is a big issue, and I think it’s important to explain to people what exactly the amendment says.”
Brown launched a website with photographs taken of people wearing T-shirts that say “Vote Against”, paired with their own descriptions of what aspect of the amendment they are voting against.
The proposed amendment has been referred to as “anti-LGBT legislation”, but Brown cautions voters that the amendment has a farther reach and will affect traditional families as well.
The language of the amendment states, “Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.”
This statement does not only ban same-sex marriage. It also eliminates the benefits domestic partners receive in the workplace by prohibiting N.C from recognizing both same-sex and heterosexual civil unions.
“I don’t want to focus on the LGBT crowd; we have their vote. What’s more important is that this affects so many other people, and they might be voting for an amendment that can negatively affect them one day,” Brown said.
“I’m a friend of Curtis, so when he asked if he could start his campaign at N.C . State, I was happy to become a liaison,” Kyle Vey , sophomore in biomedical engineering, said.
The Vote Against Project launched it’s state-wide campaign in the Talley Brown Room yesterday. Students, faculty, and the public in attendance had the chance to put on a T-shirt and have their photos added to Brown’s online gallery.
“We received huge interest in the project from State students, and because we’re a Raleigh-based organization, it just made sense to start things off there,” said Ryan Smith, project manager for Vote Against.
Brown says that the entire idea behind the project is to give people an easy way to oppose the movement. Photos are showcased online, and it’s easy for participants to share their photo on Facebook and spread the word about why they’re voting against the amendment.
“This is the civil rights fight of our time,” Shannon Ritchie, project manager, said. “College students can’t be ignored because their campuses are where movements have historically garnered support. Students have an important voice, so we’re excited to start off at State.”
While the event was hosted on campus, Justine Hollingshead , director of the GLBT Center, says that it’s not an officially campus-supported event.
“As a state employee, I can inform others about the amendment, but I can’t tell them how to vote,” Hollingshead said.
In order to allow the widest group of University faculty to participate, Vey and Brown organized yesterday’s event in two sessions. One was held during lunch hours for students, and another went until 7 p.m . so that faculty could participate after hours without representing the University.
Kyle Vey advertised the event by word-of-mouth and social media.
“Pretty much everyone I spoke with was really excited. I only got one very nasty comment when I posted something on Facebook. I responded politely, and that was it,” Vey said.
“No matter where we go, someone is going to be upset,” Brown said. “The most important point I’m trying to get out is that people need to really learn about the amendment and go out and vote. Supporting us with a photo is one thing, but we can’t make a difference without a vote.”
For those who missed the opportunity to participate in the photo shoot on campus, the “Vote Against Project” will be at the Busy Bee Cafe on Jan. 26 from 4 p.m . to 9 p.m .
