North Carolina House Speaker Thom
Tillis has predicted passage of a gay marriage ban, but added that it
most likely won't last, WRAL
reported.
If approved during the state's May 8
primary, Amendment One would bar North Carolina from recognizing the
relationships of gay and lesbian couples with marriage, civil unions
and possibly domestic partnerships.
Speaking Monday at North Carolina
State, Tillis predicted passage of the amendment with a 54 percent
majority and repeal within 20 years.
Tillis, a leading proponent of the
amendment, said he believes the next generation will repeal the
amendment.
Jeremy Kennedy, campaign manager for
Protect All NC Families, suggested in a statement that Tillis was
having second thoughts.
“Thom Tillis' statement reveals not
only the growing opposition to Amendment One, but also that even its
primary proponent is now having second thoughts about the necessity
and longevity of this constitutional rewrite,” he said. “Our
question is then, 'Why would you strip kids of their health care,
threaten domestic violence protections, and muddy parental rights to
their children – all in a last ditch effort to codify a poorly
written measure that future generations will be forced to clean up?'”
Chris Fitzsimon of N.C. Policy Watch
also criticized Tillis' remarks: “Apparently the speaker believes
it is OK to discriminate against people for the next 20 years or so
until the people inevitably rise up to stop it.”