NORTH CAROLINA (WBTV) - Monday night the North Carolina House took a major toward putting an amendment that would ban gay marriage before the voters this coming May.
Ten Democrats joined 65 House Republicans to pass a measure that would put the amendment on the ballot.
To move forward, the bill had to have the support of 60% of the House, which comes out to 72 votes.
The measure must now pass 60% of the state senate, which is expected to take it up on Tuesday.
The governor would not be able to veto the measure even if she wanted to; if it passes the Senate it will be on the ballot in May.
Rallies both for and against putting the amendment on the ballot happened in different parts of the state Monday.
Monday night in Charlotte, hundreds of opponents of the amendment who support gay marriage came out to a rally at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Charlotte's Plaza-Midwood neighborhood, which has a large gay population.
"It's a basic civil right that I want to enjoy," said Becky Stamler, who came out with Lisa MacDonald.
The two say they were married in Washington, DC -- where gay marriage is legal -- but they also want to get married someday in North Carolina.
Although there's already a law in place banning gay marriage in North Carolina, an amendment would be far more difficult to undo.
"It seems our legislature is spending time and energy on something that's discriminating against a single group of people, when in fact what I believe they ought to be doing is their job," said MacDonald.
But supporters don't think putting the amendment on the ballot is a bad idea.
"We're just saying let the people vote," said Dr. Michael Brown, a Jewish Christian who hosts a nationally syndicated radio show from Concord.
Brown says he would vote yes if given the chance.
"For those who are religious, this is based on scripture, this is based on history of thousands and thousands of years, so it's not a good idea to tamper with the foundations," he said.
"I'm fine with people considering that marriage is traditionally between a man and a woman," MacDonald said. "What I don't want them to do is tell me how I have to live my life."
But Brown argues there are very good reasons for banning gay marriage and promoting heterosexual marriage.
"The reason that the state conveys benefits on marriage is because marriage conveys benefits on the state," he said. "A man and woman coming together with the possibility of procreation, and then to join a kid to a mom and dad, it's in the best interests of everybody, and [it's] something you don't want to tamper with."
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