Senate Bill 272: Marriage Discrimination Amendment
This bill would amend the state constitution to prohibit marriage, civil union, domestic partnership or any similar relationship for same-sex couples.
- Bill Number: Senate Bill 272
- Bill Status:
- Referred to Committee on Ways & Means
- Bill not subject to the crossover deadline and alive for the 2009-2010 session.
- Bill Link: Check Bill Status and Read/Download Bill Text
- Related Bills: (none)
- ENC Position: Equality NC opposes this bill.
Bill Summary
Introduced on February 24, 2008 by Sen. James Forrester (R-Gaston), Senate Bill 272, so-called "Defense of Marriage", would not only deny equal marriage rights, which are already denied lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender North Carolinians, but would also prohibit any recognition of civil unions, domestic partnerships, or similar relationships in the state. The language of the bill is so broad it could prevent private companies from extending domestic partner benefits to their employees.
Sen. Forrester was joined by 21 co-sponsors, including 5 Democrats and 17 Republicans.
Sen. Forrester introduced similar bills in the 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 sessions, which Equality NC successfully worked to block.
In order to become law, the bill would need to pass both the House and Senate with at 3/5 margin, and be approved by a majority of voters on the November 2009 ballot.
Sponsors
Forrester (Primary)
Austin M. Allran
Tom Apodaca
Philip E. Berger
Stan Bingham
Harris Blake
Andrew C. Brock
Harry Brown
Peter S. Brunstetter
Debbie A. Clary
Don Davis
W. Edward (Eddie) Goodall
David W. Hoyle
Neal Hunt
Jim Jacumin
Ed Jones
Jean Preston
David Rouzer
Bob Rucho
Larry Shaw
John Snow
Jerry W. Tillman
