North Carolina squeaked out of the Bush years without adding a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Democrats continually killed such legislatives proposals while controlling the House and the Senate for almost a decade. But now the Republicans are back in power and ready to get their hate on! So who are the bastardly duo eager to enshrine bigotry in their state’s constitution? Let’s meet them, shall we?



NAME: Senator James Forrester

ORIGIN: From Stanley, NC – “A friendly place!”

HATE CRED: Has filed the bill asking voters to write a ban on same-sex marriage into the state Constitution every year for nearly a decade. He says the bill has the votes to pass now. If passed, voters would decide on the fate of the amendment on Election Day 2012, which would surely help Republican turnout.

BONUS FUN FACT: Forrester had promised not to file the anti-gay amendment this year and focus on creating jobs instead, but he went back on that promise making him a liar to boot—talk about a multi-tasker!

NAME: Senator Phil Berger

ORIGIN: From New Rochelle, NY – “Queen City of the Sound”

HATE CRED: He co-sponsored Forrester’s same-sex ban bills in 2007, 2008 and 2009. He recently said that the Senate will take up the bill “later rather than sooner,” but it’s definitely in his sights. Ian Palmquist, executive director of Equality North Carolina says that he foresees Berger chipping in on anti-gay abortion and school bullying measures later on as well.

BONUS FUN FACT: His co-sponsored amendment would prohibit recognition and protection of any unmarried couples including civil unions and domestic partnerships among opposite-sex couples—an equal opportunity hater!