We Do Campaign In South Carolina
ByThough all of the Republican Presidential candidates were invited to the Reconciliation Prayer Service held in Greenville, SC today, none attended. Three same-sex couples sought marriage licenses at the Greenville County Probate Court, and all three were denied pursuant to the laws of the state. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, leader of the Campaign for Southern Equality, told participants today, “Your love is holy. Your love is true. We are here today to stand up to laws that are unjust and to call for full equality for all LGBT people.”
On Wednesday, two more couples will seek marriage licenses. Then Thursday a Charleston couples will do the same in that city. Watch for some surprises along the way.
David Forbes at Mountain Xpress wrote an excellent story about CSE and the We Do campaign.
And here’s one of the excellent videos released as part of the We Do campaign.
18 Comments
January 17th, 2012 at 10:36 pm
If only there was a Register of Deeds brave enough not to say no to these couples. I wish Drew would come out and show some balls about this situation.
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January 18th, 2012 at 11:39 am
@Jason
The problem is not with the Register of Deeds, it’s with the NC General Assembly and our state laws. If Drew said yes, he’d be likely fired for breaking the law. Then what? Nothing would’ve changed, no one would’ve gotten married. Instead, we’d lose an ally. Think long term. Start by changing hearts and minds, then change the law.
January 18th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
If Don Yelton (or anyone else with an “R” by their name) was Register of Deeds this blog would spend countless posts chastising them for not “doing the right thing”.
Drew either values his job and security over someone else’s basic rights or he doesn’t.
Either Gordo and you value the party over people’s basic rights or you don’t.
The choice is yours.
January 18th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
Jason,
The LGBT folks in town who are participating in the work to change the laws are ok with Drew. That says a lot more than the haranguing of a couple of straight guys who aren’t out there doing the work. Real talk.
I know the goal, and I’m confident in the CSE strategy.
January 18th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
You know, Gordon. I come here with what I feel is a valid criticism and you say that I’m basically full of shit.
I just want to see Drew comment on the issue. Shad has posted a link to a NC-based RoDs who is joining the fight, and Drew won’t comment on it.
Either he is afraid of doing the right thing because it is an election year or he isn’t.
Now please, say I’m full of shit again.
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January 18th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
The LGBT folks in town who are participating in the work to change the laws are ok with Drew.
Are they? I mean have you asked them all? I certainly know of a few who ain’t, but really that is beside the point…unless you are suggesting that those with dissenting opinions are not “participating in the work to change the laws.”
That says a lot more than the haranguing of a couple of straight guys who aren’t out there doing the work
Does this mean that because we (I am assuming this is also directed at me) are straight that are feelings/opinions on the matter are somehow less valid? That we should just sit down and shut up and let the big boys do the work? I’m of the opinion that public officials can be, and should be “harangued” from time to time.
I know the goal, and I’m confident in the CSE strategy.
I know the goal too, and I am not confident in the CSE strategy. Civil rights aren’t won with marketing campaigns, they are won in the courts.
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January 18th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Perhaps those critical of the current Buncombe County Register of Deeds in this matter will step up to the plate and file to run against him in the election this year on a platform promising to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples. Then again posting gripes on a blog about his not doing so is a lot easier. The filing period is coming up soon. Put up or shut up.
January 18th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
All I did was ask a question, an apparently uncomfortable one (actually I asked two questions, but the first was a while back), and have yet to receive an answer, instead I’ve been told from a variety of sources politely and not-so-much to “sit down and shut up.”
I get it, I’m not gay, so I guess my opinion on the subject counts for less? I dunno about that. I’m white too and no one has ever told me be quiet when pointing out racism. Nor am I a member of any group (advocacy or otherwise–unless we are counting my membership in the LEGO VIP program, and I doubt we are). So therefore my opinions shouldn’t be heard, and there may be some truth to that…but none of this started with an opinion, it was a question. Let us not confuse the two.
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January 18th, 2012 at 5:05 pm
So by Gordon’s logic, I’m not entitled to an opinion on the matter because I haven’t volunteered.
Wonderful. I remember that come primary time when I have to go vote on the Amendment to ban gay marriage. I can’t bring my self to support that, so maybe I just won’t vote against it. After all, I haven’t volunteered, so why should I care?
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January 18th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
You’re free to ask whichever questions come to mind. We disagree on the points, though we agree that this will be resolved in the courts. The CSE strategy seeks a federal remedy.
Being ignored or disagreed with is not censorship. It may just mean your opinion is in the minority or that your question isn’t at the top of folks’ priority list? If you’re looking to have your feelings validated at a political blog, you’re probably going to be disappointed.
The folks I work with who are involved in activism are ok with Drew. I’m sure there are some folks who aren’t. I would invite everyone to get involved. Creating a circular firing squad made up of allies isn’t likely the most effective way to make change.
Harangue away! It’s a free country, and you make a heckuva lemon harangue pie.
January 18th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
I don’t believe I mentioned anything about censorship or validation.
Creating a circular firing squad made up of allies isn’t likely the most effective way to make change.
I agree.
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January 18th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
Who, exactly, has told you to ‘sit down and shut up’ Shad? It seems to me like you’re simply being ignored. As Gordon points out, that’s not censorship. He also never said that your opinions are less valid because you’re straight, but simply because you have not been involved with CSE’s protest. You’re not out there doing the work, Shad. Yet you think people should drop everything they’re doing and pay attention to you because you posted some comment on Facebook or a blog.
And as someone who hasn’t participated in CSE’s protest, as an outsider who’s trying to tell a group how to strategize their protest, the fact that you feel slighted for being ignored is fairly hilarious. If you feel so passionate that you have key insight into how CSE can achieve victory in their struggle, why don’t you contact them, actually become a part of the process, propose your ideas to the group, and stop sniping from the sidelines.
Or start your own damn protest since you aren’t confidant in CSE’s strategy anyways. Do something, anything, besides complaining about how nobody will listen to your brilliant ideas. I dare ya. I mean, you can obviously do a better job of it, right?
January 18th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
I never mentioned CSE’s protest nor did I ever say anything about censorship. I asked a question about a legal action taking place in other NC counties with ROD’s and asked if our own was going to join the lawsuit, and why or why not. I didn’t receive an answer, nor do I really expect to…but I am going to keep asking.
I wish CSE the best and hope they are successful, I do think there are other more effective methods for engagement, but I certainly do not begrudge them their efforts.
I do not, nor have I said anywhere, that I think “people should drop everything they’re doing and pay attention to [me] because [I] posted some comment on Facebook or a blog.” Nor do I feel slighted for being ignored.
I certainly do not appreciate your accusations leveled at me, nor your tone. I have not made any personal attacks on Drew, and I have said–in public and in private– that I think he is a nice guy and I hope he succeeds. Also, please feel free to point me where I was complaining about no one listening to my so-called brilliant ideas?
January 18th, 2012 at 8:06 pm
I hope you get an answer to your question, Shad. Your point about allies is well taken. We are allies as well. Thanks for that.
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January 18th, 2012 at 8:08 pm
I hope you get an answer to your question, Jason. I accept that you have a valid opinion. I’m glad we’re on the same side of the equality issue.
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January 18th, 2012 at 9:51 pm
OK, group hug. I love you guys, really. now get back to work, I mean it.
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January 19th, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Reisinger now has a primary opponent:
http://mountainx.com/article/39560/Marie-Hall-will-challenge-Register-of-Deeds-Drew-Reisinger-in-the-Democratic-primary
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January 19th, 2012 at 9:03 pm
Paul,
Just of curiosity, who in the state would fire the elected official?
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