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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNC elections official resigns rather than facilitate the marriage discrimination amendment
NC elections official resigns rather than facilitate the marriage discrimination amendment
By: Pam Spaulding Tuesday January 10, 2012 8:48 am
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UPDATE: I have an exclusive interview with Sherre Toler; it follows her letter.
This thunderous letter of support for equality was sent to PHB and BlueNC by Sherre Toler, who, until last week was the director of elections for Harnett County in my state. Toler would rather leave her job than be a party to facilitating a ballot initiative this May that would allow discrimination under the North Carolina Constitution. Notably, she observes that the Majority would have voted to keep interracial marriage illegal. The cultural and shifting norm should not guide which human beings have civil rights and which should not. My emphasis below.
On January 3, 2012 I resigned my position as Director of Elections for Harnett County, NC. I am extremely proud of the progress and accomplishments made to the voting procedures and polling places in Harnett County over the last eleven and a half years. I am especially proud that the Board of Elections Office has always been operated in a fair, efficient and non-partisan manner during my tenure.
Unfortunately, recent actions of the North Carolina General Assembly made it impossible for me to continue as Director of Elections as speaking publicly about candidates or issues appearing on the ballot is prohibited. In September, the legislature passed a bill requiring a referendum be placed on the May, 2012 primary ballot defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. I cannot and will not be a party to such actions.
If marriage were simply a religious institution, this would not be an issue. Different faiths are free to impose whatever moral restrictions they choose on their congregations and they in turn are free to accept or reject those restrictions. From a psychological and emotional perspective, marriage provides the individuals an opportunity to demonstrate their love for each other by committing themselves to this special relationship. In addition, marriage provides the participants in the relationship with a myriad of legal rights and special status, including inheritance and property rights as well as insurance and tax benefits. Marriage provides over 1000 legal rights and protections. The so-called Defense of Marriage Act seeks to ensure that anyone wishing to marry their partner of the same gender will be DENIED those legal rights. The broad language of the referendum could also impact private contracts between individuals, powers of attorney, and domestic partnerships, including heterosexual ones.
More plus interview:
http://pamshouseblend.firedoglake.com/2012/01/10/nc-elections-official-resigns-rather-than-facilitate-the-marriage-discrimination-amendment/
polmaven
(9,463 posts)Integrity abounds throughout that letter!
barbtries
(28,702 posts)i hope her story travels far and wide. a courageous move on her part.