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Published: Monday, May. 14, 2012 / Updated: Monday, May. 14, 2012 12:04 PM

North Carolina voters pass amendment on gay marriage

STEELE CREEK -- 

With Mecklenburg County one of seven holdout counties, North Carolina voters passed the Amendment One vote on primary day making marriage between one man and one woman “the only domestic legal union” recognized by the state.

Statewide the vote was 1,303,952 in favor of the constitutional amendment compared to 831,788 against. But in Mecklenburg County 95,615 voted against it and 80,816 voting for it.

The Steele Creek precinct at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church saw steady traffic, with voters on both sides of the amendment having their say. That precinct nearly drew to a dead heat at 929 votes in favor of and 884 votes against the amendment. Some said they would have voted had the amendment not been an issue, while others said they only came out to cast a vote on gay marriage. Some struggled with the decision. Some didn’t.

“I believe it should be a man and a woman that get married,” said Malachi McQuien, who “definitely would not have” voted except for the amendment. “The Bible says it. We can’t change the Bible’s rule.”

Liz Loden found the issue equally as simple, though her take was in the opposite direction.

“I find it utterly ridiculous, so I voted against it,” she said.

Voters like Gloria Yarborough and Thomas White echoed the takes of many “yes” votes, saying marriage should be one man and one woman. Issues of health benefits or domestic rights rarely registered for voters.

“Basically, I’m considering it a man and a woman,” White said. “That’s it.”

Jason Baker saw both sides of the argument, but settled on a “no” vote. Baker doesn’t see gay marriage as a threat to heterosexuals.

“They’re not against me,” he said. “Why should I be against them?”