It’s okay when gay couples want to relieve the system and adopt multiple children, but it’s not okay to let them marry? Give me a break. This is going to happen eventually, you can either be graceful and dignified during the process, or you can be ugly and disrespectful to others feelings. The choice is yours, but my motto is “Treat people as you would want to be treated. Be kind, be respectful.”

And as a side note to Geoff…so, it’s okay to “live together” and not marry as long as the money keeps coming in for another 15 years? And gay people are the ones corrupting the morals of this country????? THAT’S why you don’t want the Amendment to pass? Because you want the money??? Did that just happen? Nobody can FORCE you to marry, let’s be clear. You can’t have it both ways…survivor benefit AND health insurance benefit. You see, that’s called GREED. Just marry her and together take responsibility as a married couple. Or don’t marry her…but don’t expect to get everything for nothing. I am gay, and have gotten NOTHING forever. My partner and I have been together 25 years. She can’t get insurance from my company and I cannot get insurance from hers. When one of us passes away, we can’t even pass our retirement accounts to each other without paying taxes on the money…no spousal transfer is allowed. How would your life partner liked it if she had to pay taxes on her deceased husband’s retirement accounts upon his death? She wouldn’t. She also receives or will receive her deceased husband’s portion of his social security benefit. But I won’t. We’ve been together 25 years, paying fairly into the system, for nothing…does that sound FAIR to you?

All I want to be is a married couple in the eyes of the government. I don’t want more than my fair share, I just want what every other heterosexual couple seems to take for granted…their fair share.

I am a straight male, and my life partner, a woman, would suffer great economic hardship if this proposal passes. You see, she is a widow, and she receives a survivor benefit. And as unfair as it may be, if she remarries before she reaches her late husband’s full retirement age (roughly another 15 years or so from now), she’ll lose that survivor benefit. Unlike current non-gender specific domestic partner medical insurance that many employers and local governments offer, this amendment, if passed, would force us to marry, in order to keep the health insurance benefit, and lose her survivor benefit, OR remain unmarried, but have to pay medical insurance completely out of pocket. And with pre-existing conditions, it may be entirely impossible to find coverage that would be no more expensive than her survivor benefit.

No, Proposition One is NOT a “gay marriage” issue in our family. And we are voting NO on May 8.

Thank you Senator Hagen, for standing up for the men and women of NC, heterosexual and homosexual, to say this proposition is wrong.

Sincerely,
- Geoff, a registered voter

Let’s start with what you cannot eat, according to Leviticus 11:6, you can’t eat rabbits (hares), 11:7 says don’t eat swine (how many enjoy their morning bacon?) 11:10 tells us not to eat anything from the water unless it has fins or scales. Wait a minute, neither crabs or lobsters have scales or fins and don’t even touch that calamari!

Next we see that woman are directed to stay apart from everyone during her period for 7 days or as long as she bleeds, that’s Leviticus 15:19. How many of you take animals to the Tabernacle to be sacrificed as a blood offering?

Leviticus 19:11 tells us not to steal of lie, hmmm, that one is very interesting. Then there is 19:19 that tells us not to wear clothing of mixed fabrics. Darn, I really like my jeans of cotton and spandex!

How about Leviticus 19:27, it tells us not to shave or cut our hair, oops. Leviticus 20:9 tells us that we should kill our children if they cuss their mother or father, (oh really?) Anyone have a tatoo? Leviticus 21:5 says it is a sin if you make any cuttings to your flesh.

Most egregious is Leviticus 21:17 where we are told not to approach the Lord if we are blemished.

Perhaps we should do as Jesus tells us and love one another and let our Lord deal with any and all sins.

Tata fired a shot (distraction) that is will blow up in his face. He is in way over his head. Central Services is functioning at an all time low.

Six months from now the board needs to Fire his Ass!

Jobs are a function of both our Federal government, and our State. This Amendment is what our legislature spent their time working on instead of jobs and growth. Thank you Representative Hagen for taking a stance!

GSIW needs to quit attacking Tata. The most recent attack was over the school time changes. This subject comes up every couple of years. As a matter of fact, changing specific school start times occurs frequently, only affecting a few schools but the difference between then and now is parent input; in times prior,you read abiut te change after the fact, in the newspaper. At least Tata is transparent, asks for input and readily admits that he will adjust as needed. GSIW protested against the Leadership Academies…..well guess what, demand is far exceeding the number of seats available. Rob, ease off. Use your magnifying glass equally.