To the Editor,

Amendment One will take rights away from all unmarried couples across North Carolina — both straight and gay. If approved, it would set in the state’s Constitution a prohibition against legally recognizing civil unions between a man and a woman (as well as between same-sex couples).

It would prohibit the state from passing legislation that would authorize civil unions — and strip domestic partner insurance benefits currently offered to employees by a number of local governments. This amendment would stop local governments from offering health insurance to the families of their unmarried employees.

Census figures show 223,000 couples in domestic partnerships in the Tar Heel state. Roughly 90 percent of those couples are straight. Many adults — and their children — will lose health insurance. If nothing else, think of the children. What happens when they need to see a doctor for an earache or an asthma attack? Do those pushing this amendment really want to make it harder for a kid to go see a doctor? Do they really want to take health insurance away from children in North Carolina?

Count me as another voter against the amendment.

John Schelp

Durham