North Carolina state Senator Jim Davis
has said a proposed gay marriage ban would “restrict freedoms a
little more beyond my comfort zone,” the Macon
County News reported.
Voters in May will decided on a
far-reaching amendment that would make it unconstitutional for North
Carolina to recognize gay and lesbian couples with marriage, civil
unions and possibly even domestic partnerships.
At a town hall last week, Davis, a
Republican who voted in favor of sending the amendment to voters,
expressed concerns over it.
“I have a lot of libertarian in me,”
he said. “I believe firmly, passionately that a marriage should be
defined as being between one man and one woman. But I also believe
with all my heart that in a free America people who choose to live a
different lifestyle should have a legal right to do so. Just don't
call it marriage.”
“The marriage amendment is so
important because these gay and lesbian, transgender people want
moral equivalence to a heterosexual marriage, and it never can be in
my opinion. A heterosexual marriage is the bedrock of our society.
I feel passionately about that, but I don't think we need to restrict
the rights of people who do not choose to live our lifestyles.”
(Related: GOPer
Renee Ellmers says North Carolina gay marriage ban too aggressive.)