Bigotry needs to stop being a political tool

I woke up today and do what I do every morning in my attempt to usurp the moral fiber of America. I texted my girlfriend, who lives almost a thousand miles away, a simple “Good Morning darling”.

I didn’t get my usual “Hello Beautiful” back (yes, we’re disgustingly cheesy; it goes with the long distance). Instead I got this: “NC passed the amendment ” We have no real interest in moving to North Carolina, much less now. But, this isn’t about North Carolina or gay marriage for that matter. It’s politics, and that’s even worse.

Almost 1 million people in North Carolina voted to ban gay marriage in the state. The ban also extends to civil unions and domestic partnerships. It is one of the most prohibitive bans in the country. The marriage ban was already in place as a law, the fact that it is now part of the state charter is a symbolic gesture to the people that voted.

The bill comes during an important election year for Republicans, who are trying to prove they are the most conservative. They were catering to voters when they wrote the bill, not to their God. This isn’t about religion; it’s about a sense of entitlement that allows voters to think they have the right to take rights away. To be honest, I prefer the Democrats entitlement state more.

“The whole point -- is simply that you don't rewrite the nature of God's design for marriage based on the demands of a group of adults,” said one of the pro-marriage activists in North Carolina. The amendment is meant to ward of activist judges who could change the state law, but not the constitution.

Aside from the issue that “God’s Design” should have nothing to do with “North Carolina’s design" is that there is no reason that wedge issues (politicized ones that actually affect a minimal part of the population) should be turned into an incursion on civil liberties simply to make a political move.

I don’t care what people do in their personal life. I’m a live and let live kind of person and I don’t appreciate my personal life and my rights becoming political pawns.