Plan B Forum

The number of North Carolinians supporting marriage equality is on the rise, according to the results of an Elon University poll, which is widely referenced in the state.

At this time last year, the poll found that 28% backed marriage equality, then that number rose to 33% in November, and it has reached 36% in February. But marriage equality isn't on the ballot in May.

Voters must actually decide whether to ban same-sex marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships in one fell swoop via an amendment to the state constitution. The Elon poll found 54% of North Carolinians opposed to such an amendment, while 38% said they support it.

Scooter wrote:I was being somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but the taste of Jesse Helms is still somewhat fresh in my mouth.

(uh, I think that might have come out not quite how I intended it)

bigskygal wrote:Maybe the rural folks believe marriage equality will extend to first cousin and sibling marriage?

Cape Fear Watchdog$
New Hanover Commissioners choose not to accept family planning funds

Monday, March 12, 2012 at 4:00
by Shannan Bowen

Following opinions on public funding of contraceptives, the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to turn down a state family planning grant that would cover contraceptive supplies along with other medical services related to family planning.

Commissioner Rick Catlin, who represents the commissioners on the county’s health board, said he also voted against accepting the funds when the item was on the health board’s agenda.

He said he was concerned with answers to questions he asked about the funds.

“The answers that I got were that there were patients that were not being responsible with existing family planning that was being offered and that this would provide a more reliable solution for those people,” Catlin said at Monday afternoon’s commissioners meeting.

He added that he had an issue with “using taxpayer dollars to fund someone’s irresponsibility.”

The county’s health department was awarded $8,899 in family planning funds that would “provide medical services related to family planning including physician’s consultation, examination, prescription, continuing supervision, laboratory examination and contraceptive supplies,” according to a budget amendment item included in documents for Monday’s commissioners meeting. The county was not required to match the state grant.

Chairman Ted Davis said he thought it was a sad day when “taxpayers are asked to pay money to buy for contraceptives” for women having sex without planning responsibly.

“If these young women were responsible people and didn’t have the sex to begin with, we wouldn’t be in this situation,” Davis said.

Commissioner Jonathan Barfield said he was “one of those abstinence guys” and agreed with Davis’ comment.

No one made a motion to accept the funds. Instead, Catlin made a motion not to accept the funds.

Catlin said during the discussion that his views had nothing to do with discussions about contraceptives on the national level, which have included whether religious institutions should be required to offer birth control coverage.

dgs49 wrote:Just for the fun of it, I wonder if any of the "enlightened" people who delight in finding all sorts of statistics to support their positions could find statistics verifying that the widespread availability of birth control and abortion has reduced illegitimacy, poverty, and child abuse. Or that if government only provided these things "for free," we would have less of any of them.

Seems to me like the only people who systematically avail themselves are the ones who have the resources to have kids, but simply don't want them (the middle class).

dgs49 wrote:Just for the fun of it, I wonder if any of the "enlightened" people who delight in finding all sorts of statistics to support their positions could find statistics verifying that the widespread availability of birth control and abortion has reduced illegitimacy, poverty, and child abuse. Or that if government only provided these things "for free," we would have less of any of them.

Seems to me like the only people who systematically avail themselves are the ones who have the resources to have kids, but simply don't want them (the middle class).