North Carolina's Beverly Perdue To Vote Against Gay Marriage Ban

RALEIGH --Gov. Bev Perdue said Friday that she'll vote against a proposed change to North Carolina's constitution next May that would prohibit gay marriage.


She said that although she backs traditional matrimony, the amendment — if approved could harm the state's economy and job creation.


Perdue, a Democrat, announced her feelings on the statewide ballot measure less than four weeks after the Republican-led legislature pushed it through the House and Senate. Perdue criticized General Assembly leaders last month for pushing the amendment as part of their social agenda at a time, she said, when citizens want elected officials to get the economy moving. But she had not expressed her views on the question itself.


Perdue said in a prepared statement that she believes marriage is between one man and one woman and voted while in the legislature for a 1996 law so that North Carolina couldn't recognize same-sex marriages from other states.


"I continue to support that law today," Perdue said. "But I'm going to vote against the amendment because I cannot in good conscience look an unemployed man or woman in the eye and tell them that this amendment is more important than finding them a job."


Amendment supporters said the constitutional prohibition would help the state defend itself against legal challenges by same-sex married couples from other states. The proposal also would bar the state from recognizing civil unions and other same-sex partnerships.


Gay-rights supporters said the amendment is spurring people to add formal discrimination to the constitution. Perdue said several business leaders have told her the change would "harm our state's business climate and make it harder to grow jobs here."


Dozens of business owners and executives lobbying the General Assembly before last month's vote said that an amendment would impair the ability of growing companies in emerging fields to attract workers from states with more liberalized gay rights.


Perdue said legal experts also have argued that the amendment could eliminate legal protections for all unmarried couples.


"Right now, my focus, the General Assembly's focus, and North Carolina's focus needs to be on creating jobs," Perdue said.


Gay-marriage opponents said most states at the top of economic performance tables have limits on marriage in their constitutions. The amendment was written so it won't harm job creation, said Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the pro-amendment N.C. Values Coalition, who criticized Perdue for choosing "to throw her support behind those who want to radically redefine marriage."


Voters in May will decide whether to bar the state from legalizing marriage, civil unions and possibly domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian couples.
Perdue, a 64-year-old Democrat, said she's opposed to allowing such unions but added that the economy must take precedence over social issues.
Referring to her 1996 vote in the state Senate in favor of a law banning gay marriage, Perdue said, “I continue to support that law today.”
“But I'm going to vote against the amendment because I cannot in good conscience look an unemployed man or woman in the eye and tell them that this amendment is more important than finding them a job.”
“Right now, my focus, the General Assembly's focus, and North Carolina's focus needs to be on creating jobs,” Perdue added.
Perdue is the latest high-profile elected official to come out against the amendment. Last week, North Carolina Rep. Renee Ellmers, a conservative Republican and tea party favorite, said the amendment was too aggressive.