the rix mix

It's bizarre & self-defeating. In a nation as economically hobbled as ours, suffering from political paralysis & extreme partisanship, we still find it "important" to not only constitutionally ban same sex marriages, but throw "civil unions" under the ban, too. Gays & lesbians now serve openly in the military. Major corporations recognize civil unions & domestic partnerships even in states where no laws exist legally establishing them. Without extending those benefits, the businesses might lose some of their most valued employees & be handicapped in  recruiting & hiring the  best applicants.  But North Carolina, which fancies itself a business friendly state (due in part to anti-union laws); trying to attract cutting edge information tech companies to "modern progressive cities" like Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro; with one of the most livable, artsy, open-minded small cities in America - Asheville;  says,  "No  LGBT welcome here" by an astounding margin of about 60% to 40%.  Shameful.