Can Local City Councils Help Affirm Gay Marriage?

Published December 04, 2008 @ 03:19PM PT

Prop 8 city resolution Will the struggle over marriage equality for same-sex couples start playing out in city councils around the U.S.? In the wake of Proposition 8, it's entirely possible. Case in point, in response to the overwhelmingly anti-gay measures that passed in California (Prop 8), Arizona (Prop 102), Florida (Amendment 2), and Arkansas (Proposed Initiative Act 1) on Election Day, the town of Carrboro, North Carolina decided to put a gay measure resolution on the city council's plate.

The measure, introduced by town board member Jackie Grist, called on the city of Carrboro to support civil marriage for same-sex couples. The measure passed overwhelmingly, 5-0.

Though it's largely symbolic, the measure places the issue of same-sex marriage squarely in the eyes of voters again. Which begs the question - could measures like this around the country be helpful in changing hearts and minds on this issue?

According to Carrboro's mayor, Mark Chilton, the answer is yes.

It was just a couple of college towns when we started in on the civil rights movement in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, and it was just a couple of college towns when we started the process of ending the war in Vietnam.

Other board members agreed. And fittingly so, given that Carrboro, North Carolina was one of the first municipalities in the South to pass resolutions opposing the Patriot Act and the Iraq War. Now they're showing real leadership on the issue of marriage equality.

Board Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell: "I think it’s really important for the municipalities to weigh in when they know they stand for civil marriage. I think it's really important for Carrboro to stand firm."

Board Member Grist: "The Election Day victories by anti-gay activists in California, Florida, Arizona and Arkansas were a painful reminder that the gay rights movement still faces many challenges. Civil marriage for same-sex couples must include all the benefits commonly bestowed upon opposite-sex couples, including, among other rights, health care coverage and related decision-making, privileges under immigration and naturalization law, survivor benefits, inheritance rights and child custody."

For cities and communities outraged over the outcome of LGBT rights in the 2008 Elections, municipal resolutions affirming support for same-sex marriage are definitely one way to show solidarity and support to the LGBT community. For this to happen in a small 17,000 person town in North Carolina, even if it's a liberal college town, is also historic.

I'm also drawn to Mayor Chilton's comments about college towns laying the foundation for the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement during Vietnam. Can they be the building blocks again from which a movement to support marriage equality is made?

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Comments (3)

I am 62, a retired chappie with Nam history. It was that experience in theatre that made me make common cause with those returning veterans against the war. My younger brother also served as a platoon officer in the war. He returned and graduated Yale Law, and was active in local and state politics in CT. We both became Democrats from an old Mayflower descendant family who had always voted Republican. Swamp Yankees like us always supported the Yankee Brahmins like the Lodges....generations of them....Henry CABOT Lodge....as the ditty went....

" Welcome to Boston, the land of the bean and the cod,'
Where the Cabots speak to the Lowells
And the Lowells speak only to God."

Well, these WASP's were now voting for (gulp) Irish Catholics. Only the Peabody's like Chubb were Democrats " after the takeover by the immigrant classes". LOL.

Boston and Cambridge City Councils were instrumental in the war effort. This is the same good attempt.

Please, however, point out the difference between then and now. Yes, the NC town is college town...Austin TX is liberal oasis. I suggest that neocons know that they all harbor liberal enclaves in their college towns.

I still, Mike, believe that it is the gay Legal Eagles like you, who must take it to the Courts....for only your profession will bring about the change we need. Neocon newspeak for "activist judges" means that the Judicial Co-Equal branch are doing their job to protect oppressed minorities from the majority.

My brother, a very heterosexual guy, and my sister-in-law (married also for 30 plus years) were instrumental in their vocal support for same sex marriage in Connecticut, where they have lived since Yale.

Posted by A B on 12/04/2008 @ 03:46PM PT
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I've heard a lot about Prop 8, and noticed we have a petition here against it, but do you know if anything is being done to overturn the rulings from the other states. Any petitions, protests, legal actions being organized? The Arkansas Act 1, although mainly targeted toward gay couples, also affects any other "non-traditional" couple, such as those of us who believe in monogamy, but don't want to get married, or single moms and dads. I live in NYS, so I'm not up to speed on all the legal actions being taken state to state...

Posted by r s on 12/07/2008 @ 09:28AM PT
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Lisa....there were many protests in many venues in CA , around the nation, and around the world soon after the elections.

Protests continue, but now the legal phase has begun and will be reviewed by the CA Supreme Court with a request to repeal Propostion Hate, or H8.

Posted by A B on 12/08/2008 @ 05:29PM PT
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Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He is the former Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, as well as the former Director of Communications for Pax Christi USA, a national Catholic peace and justice organization. Mike is a graduate of Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and he is also a proud sketch comedy writer.