Although North Carolina has a constitutional ban on gay marriage, that ban is about to blow up.
Monday, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals heard a case out of Virginia, challenging that state’s ban on gay marriage. Β And in a 2 to 1 vote, the justices decided the amendment making same-sex marriage illegal was unconstitutional, that it violated the guarantee to “equal protection and due process.” Β The gay marriages will start in a few days.
“But that’s Virginia!” you say? Β True. Β But here in North Carolina we have Amendment One, which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. Β Voters approved it by roughly 60 to 40 percent back in 2012, and the Attorney General has said in the past he would defend it in court. Β But that changed Monday.
With the new ruling from the Fourth Circuit, the same circuit that covers North Carolina, the Attorney General had to decide whether it’s worth the fight. Β And he says, “No, defending the Amendment is a losing battle.” Β Even though a majority of voters supported it.
So our Man on the Edge, Robert Wilder, hit the streets asking: did Cooper make the right call?
