AMENDMENT ONE IS DONE! ! !

With the 5 - 4 decision of the Supreme Court of the United States handed down on June 26th, 2015, in Obergfell v Hodges, Amendment One to North Carolina's State Constitution is rendered null and void.  It has become as legally relevant as an appendix in your digestive tract.  Something might irritate it once in awhile, until it is officially removed from the NC Constitution, but otherwise we can totally ignore it...

This is not the end of the struggle to achieve the recognition that all members of the LGBTQIA+ communities are FULL members of society, not second class citizens.  The motto "Equal Justice Under Law" is carved into the Supreme Court entrance way, and while progress has been made, it is not yet reality for all of our citizens.

The victory was sweet.  But there are more struggles to come.

Prejudice, ignorance, bigotry, and hate are not erased overnight with the writing of a court opinion.  Education, dialog, and time can help, as does love.  But just like we are struggling against the imbedded racism in our society 50 years after the Civil Rights Act and other monumental strides against blatant racism, we have a long, long battle to end discrimination in all forms. 

Our transgender brothers and sisters need our help now in their struggles for recognition and acceptance.  Caitlyn Jenner's high profile and very public transitioning opened the doors for some seriously needed dialog and education.  Change is coming, but it will be slow, and it will be difficult to achieve.

And Tarheel Leather Club and it's members will be there for those battles.  We support the ideal of equal protection under the law.  And that starts with the recognition that our transgendered friends and family deserve respect, love, dignity and equality,as we ALL do.  United we stand, divided we will fall.


Amendment One Is Done in NC, same sex marriage is here to stay.  Now let's get moving on to transgender recognition and rights, anti-discrimination protections in employment, health care, housing...

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