Clay Aiken weighs in on Amendment One

DURHAM

Aiken, who is gay, said he was concerned that North Carolina voters passed the amendment, which defined marriage as a union between a man and women.

Aiken said a majority of the voters have essentially written discrimination into the state's constitution but he believes voters will overturn it in the near future. He also lauded President Barack Obama for coming out and supporting gay marriage Wednesday.

"He's coming out and speaking up about something that obviously only has 40 percent support from North Carolinians," Aiken said. "So, it's very brave of him."

Aiken said Obama's support for gay marriage shows equality in the Tar Heel State is important to him.

"I think that speaks to his character a lot," Aiken said. "You know, it's not all about politics. It's about what's right."

The president's stance came the day after voters overwhelmingly passed Amendment One 61 to 39 percent. Only a handful of counties including Aiken's native Wake County voted against it.

"He's the first president to make such a stance and I think it's indeed a sad day for our country," said Amendment One supporter Pastor Tim Rabon, of Beacon Baptist Church.

Rabon said it's a morality issue -- a clear stand for righteousness.  

"Very pleased that our state took a stand for the Lord's definition of marriage," said Rabon.

Rabon said cries of the amendment harming children, women and domestic partnership benefits aren't true.

"Even the amendment itself, the second sentence guaranteed the right to have private contracts between parties," said Rabon.

However, new opposition is already popping up.

In Durham Wednesday, several same-sex couples were denied marriage licenses.

State House Speaker Thom Tillis, the Republican who helped push the amendment, predicted voters would overturn it in 20 years.

Aiken said he believed the state is more progressive than that.  

"Speaker Tillis is right," Aiken said. "It will be repealed. It'll probably be done a little faster than he thinks it will."

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