North Carolina has carved its history as the progressive rabble-rouser of the South. As such, being a citizen of North Carolina affords you certain dignities, one of which is being able to recite your state’s rich history to anyone willing to listen. Such momentous events include acting as the birthplace of the first English child in the ‘New World’, being the last state to join the Confederacy in the Civil War, being the birthplace of modern aviation, and hosting the Greensboro Race Riots. North Carolina has truly been on the forefront of free-thinking and diversity in the South. Our citizens do not compromise their integrity in order to appease outside pressures. I am proud to have been raised in such a culturally and historically diverse area. It is for these reasons I am disturbed by the political grandstanding and controversy inducing measures being utilized under the guise of “protecting” marriage in the midst of skyrocketing unemployment, a faulty health care system, the ailing economy and general inequalities mounting in every section of our society.

Republican Representative Paul Stam (Wake County) is introducing yet another Constitutional Amendment restricting marriage in our state. A version of this bill has been introduced into the legislature for each of the last four sessions, albeit unsuccessfully. However, this has not stopped the Republican caucus in North Carolina from continuously trying to pass an Amendment.

The redundancy of trying to introduce such an amendment is that our state already recognizes the codified Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) law in place within the state and federal government. This law (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 51-1.2) defines marriage as strictly between a man and a woman. It goes on to state that marriages between same-sex couples will not be recognized, even if such marriages are performed out of state. This leaves the informed citizen wondering: Why try to pass a new amendment to our State Constitution when it is already covered in our general statutes?

The answer to this question is purely political. North Carolina has been leaninging Democratic ever since Ronald Reagan left office in 1988. Most recently, Barack Obama carried North Carolina, turning the state ‘blue’ for the first time in 30 years. The ideals of freedom and knowledge have always been basic tenets of our state, but when divisive politic is introduced, controversy is sure to follow. Republicans see their grip on North Carolina weakening, and know that by creating controversy they are making themselves seem relevant.

Controversy, on the whole, breeds interest as well as anger and nothing brings about more controversy then social issues such as equal rights for minorities. In order to stay relevant, Republicans turn to issues of ‘morality’, claiming superiority based on their shared beliefs. Arguing moral versus immoral in these cases is usually fruitless because certain beliefs are deeply engrained in Southern history and religion. But this is not the point: the point is to acknowledge that by amending our Constitution, we are sending a message of intolerance and hate to a minority group.

The very essence of our Constitution is to protect people’s rights, not take them away. As a means of bringing this argument into context, it was once illegal for African Americans to get married in North Carolina. Years later, people of different races and ethnicities were also barred from marrying outside of their own race. The shocking truth is that these actions were illegal until 1967! The Supreme Court ruled in Loving v. Virginia (1967) that, “Marriage is one of the ‘basic civil rights of man,’ fundamental to our very existence and survival….” This court case overturned all laws banning interracial marriage. This is one of the beauties of our laws and our Constitution; they are a living, breathing entity. There is a delicate balance of public opinion and protection inherent in the lawmaking process, but my hope is that our state is willing to protect its minority groups.

Being a homosexual born and raised in North Carolina, I have a bias of opinion when it comes to issues that so directly affect me. However, in this instance, I have no agenda in attacking the decisions already made by our State. I respect the outcome and the process because I understand that this is a measure that, at the time, was wholly supported by the public. However, we must not forget that the public also wholly supported Jim Crow laws, poll taxes and race restrictions in the times they were written. But now, with the enormous state budget deficits, the fact that one in six North Carolinians are without health insurance, and 1.5 million North Carolinians are at or below the poverty level, don’t you think its time we stopped focusing on discriminating against a small segment of people and started helping those in need?

The political process is a powerful one, and I believe if we can stop focusing on partisan politics, and controversial measures, we can focus on our educational systems, health care issues and poverty alleviation. Denying same-sex marriage should not take precedence over topics that need attention now. Let’s not waste time on issues that will just create controversy. Let us use our time wisely to find new ways to create jobs and lower the poverty levels in our state.

James Miller was born in Virginia Beach, VA, moved to the Outer Banks of North Carolina early in his childhood. Graduating from Currituck County High School in 2002, he decided to attend UNCW. Graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2006 with a BA in Philosophy and Religion, and a BS in Business Administration Marketing, James worked in the private business sector for two years. During that time, James worked to connect the LGBT Community of the Outer Banks with the rest of the state by starting OutOBX, an online educational community. James moved to Boston after being accepted into the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University and is currently pursuing his Masters of Public Policy in LGBT Activism. He is 25 and single.