Defining today’s vote on Amendment One as a “Rosa Parks moment” for North Carolina, outgoing Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue urged her constituents to oppose the measure that would provide legal recognition only to marriage between a man and a woman.
Echoing the credo from the anti-amendment campaign, Perdue insisted that the proposed change to the state’s constitution is less about same-sex marriage and more about civil rights during an interview with MSNBC’s Chuck Todd on Tuesday morning. Critics of Amendment One have highlighted its potential implications on civil unions and domestic partnerships involving both gay and straight couples alike.
“I want voters to understand that this constitutional amendment takes away a lot of civil rights,” Perdue said. “It’s not about marriage. We have a law on the books.”
Polls show that Amendment One is a heavy favorite to pass. Republicans and Democrats in North Carolina will also hold gubernatorial primaries today in the first electoral step to replace Perdue, who announced in January that she will not seek re-election.
