March 29, 2011
For the past two years GAY U.S.A. the Movie has shot footage all around the country, including in California, New York, Minnesota, D.C. and in Washington State, and now GAY U.S.A. is heading to North Carolina and other Southern States.

Need we say that the South has never been ‘civil rights friendly’; and now the final frontier sees its share of combat as almost every Southern U.S. state bans same-gender marriage, except for North Carolina. Well they still won’t issue licenses!  The practice to amend state constitutions is an unsavory taste of draconian back peddling, considering the ambiance to the North!

While things are not that fair in any event in NC, with state law that already bans all councils from issuing marriage licenses to gay couples, the proposed referendum, called Amendment One, would introduce a constitutional ban on marriage between same-sex couples.

The anti-equality forces in amending state constitutions hope to ban the practice of same-gender marriage; they hope to block court decisions that would allow gays and lesbians to marry. Yet as we tally DOMA’s rising chart on unconstitutionality, watch the California journey on Prop8, and a myriad of Governors sign marriage equality into law, it is all but hopeful to imagine that changing minds to the North will ultimately trickle South.

That is why the last bastion of Southern defense, North Carolina, is critical!

North Carolina, may well distinguish itself certainly on this issue for now, but in a statement that would be tantamount to “gays get out of Dodge,” it will take a May 8 referendum to be the ultimate “decider.” The good news is that the equality movement group in the State has just received a large donation to help it along its path. If old lessons are to be learned, they cannot rest on their laurels and must push hard now.

Given the current state of American same-sex marriage rights as spoken by the declining opposition, I suggest that we do indeed proscribe those States which fail our equality.  The technology chief of Bank of America, Catherine Bessant, denounced the proposed measure to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman in North Carolina, saying it would make it harder for companies to attract talent to the state. She is right and we need to foretell the prophecy – not with threat but with action. Work our dollars and brains out of the States that reject us? A good thought and maybe not practical; but rebelliously necessary, perhaps!

If I had won the lottery this week, I would offer the rest of the South’s LGBT top talent mega bucks to head for a surviving North Carolina – such a statement would be powerful. But no one in reality wants to leave home! And why should they? The point is we should all be making a very polite noise in the form of assistance, education, dollars and feet power.

We must note that Ms Bessant’s views are not token and although the Bank has said they are her personal views and not a formal bank statement, why are we as an LGBT movement not seizing the day, beyond mere reporting on our BLOGS.  Where is the organizing?  It is a month away!

North Carolina is now pressing the one man, one woman measure through the ballot this Ma. Minnesota is set to follow in November, while Maine will decide whether to extend the marriage rights to homosexuals.  Bank of America is not the only business group to speak up and beg for clarity.  John Mack, a former chairman at Morgan Stanley, and Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs, have both defended extending the definition of marriage to include sexual minorities.

Are we going to wait in the wings for North Carolina results or are we going to do a little bit more for our sibling state than we have done for others before?

What you can do:-

1.)  GAY U.S.A. the Movie is heading that way – to attend the North Carolina action and then the rest of the South. If your business is interested in participating and helping us to do this, we will add your name as a sponsor. Please contact Melanie@gayusathemovie.com

To see examples of footage we have amassed and the films sphere of influence please look at the Video gallery, Press page and Blog Articles, which include Kristina ‘s attack Lapinski’s encounters with Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Rick Warren and others; and the physical attack against Melanie Nathan and Kristina at A Santorum Rally. We look forward to shooting footage in the South but cannot do it without further help from our grass root supporters and hope you will consider a contribution to the making of this film. (See Donation Page.)

2.) THIS from Equality North Carolina:-

Talking The Talk: Learn To Speak Against Amendment One

UPDATED 3/28/12 – CHARLOTTE, WILMINGTON, GREENVILLE! Equality NC invites people to learn how to help educate others about the dangers of Amendment One. We need you to share with people you know how this proposed amendment would negatively impact all families and children in North Carolina, and these trainings will teach you how to do just that.

Speaker’s Bureau

We know that Amendment One is poorly written and we know that due to that fact the amendment will have harmful, unintended consequences that will hurt children and families throughout North Carolina.

But millions of North Carolinians do not know what Amendment One will do if it passes on May 8. That is where you come in. We need you to speak out — and we are ready to train you to do so. Please come to one of the Speaker’s Bureau trainings in your area:

www.protectallncfamilies.org/events

Charlotte
Thursday, March 29, at 6 pm
Wedgewood Baptist Church
4800 Wedgewood Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210.

Wilmington
April 3, 2012, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
UNCW’s Campus – TBD

Greenville
April 4, 2012, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Tipsy Teapot
409 Evans St # B
Greenville, NC 27858

SEE GAY U.S.A. THE MOVIE PROMO  at www.gayusathemovie.com